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ON    THE    AMAZON. 


Three  Vassar  Girls 


In  South  America. 


A    HOLIDAY    TRIP    OF    THREE    COLLEGE    GIRLS 

THROUGH  THE   SOUTHERN   CONTINENT,    UP  THE  AMAZON, 

DOWN  THE  MADEIRA,  ACROSS  THE  ANDES,  AND 

UP  THE  PACIFIC  COAST  TO  PANAMA. 

BY 
LIZZIE     W.     C  H  A  M  P  N  E  Y. 


ILLUSTRATED    BY    "CHAMP"    AND    OTHERS. 


BOSTON: 
ESTES   AND    LAURIAT,   PUBLISHERS, 

301-305  Washington   Stkbet. 
1885. 


Copyright,  1884, 
By    Estes    and    Lauriat- 


A^l  Riirfi/s  Reserved. 


PREFACE. 


The  author  would  acknowledge  her  obligation  for  much  of 
the  data  used  as  background  to  this  story  to  Mr.  Herbert  Smith, 
author  of  "  Brazil,  the  Amazons,  and  the  Coast,"  and  to  the  letters 
and  lecture  of  her  husband,  as  well  as  to  the  published  books  of 
Professors  Orton,  and  Ilartt,  and  INIrs.  Agassiz,  to  the  reports  ot 
Lieutenants  Herndon  and  Gibbon,  and  to  other  standard  works. 
The  admirable  illustrations,  by  Mr.  Franz  Keller,  which  form  a 
prominent  feature  of  the  book,  are  reproduced  from  his  excellent 
work,  "The  Amazon  and  Tsladeira  Rivers."  l.  w.  r. 


15KAZ1L 


SAUDADE    DE    PALMEIRAS. 

Aqui,  scntada  na  musgosa  pedra, 
onde  aurea  parasita  crescc  c  mcdra, 

es  que^o-me  a  scismar, 
e  contemplo  cm  silencio  os  altos  montes 
que  se  estendem  sem  fim  nos  horizontcs : 

vagas  d'un  grande  mar. 

Quern  podera  isolar-se  no  teu  seio 
6  doce  solidao,  trazendo  cheio 

de  amor  o  cora^ao, 
e  meditando  a  sombra  das  palmeiras 
escutar  o  bramir  das  cacboeiras 

perder-se  na  amplidao. 

Adelixa  Amelia  Lopes  Vieira. 


C  O  N  T  E  N  T  S. 


I.  The  Start 

II.  The  Voyage 

III.  Para    .... 

IV.  A  Palmer's  Pilgrimage 
V.  Near  to  Nature's  Heart 

VI.  The  Fazenda  da  Silva 

VII.  Queer  Fish 

VIII.  On  the  Trail    . 

IX.  A  Jaguar  Hunt 

X.  Victoria  Regia 

XI.  The  Madeira  Trouble 

XII.  Help  .... 

XIII.  The  Delectable  Mountains.  —  Cuzco 

XIV.  In  the  Heart  of  a  Volcano 


II 

22 

51 
70 

88 
106 
116 
1 22 
141 

155 
174 
190 
214 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

Maud  in  her  Studio      . 

II 

Deligiit  Holmes  .... 

13 

Maud  buying  the  Sketch-Box 

15 

Protessor  Hohnes 

16 

\'ictoria 

17 

Good-By 

18 

Five  Thousand  Dollars  Reward  . 

19 

Brazilian  Flag      .... 

20 

Adieu 

21 

Heaving  the  Log 

23 

Maud  and  the  Doctor  . 

24 

Senhor  Silva        .... 

25 

A  Leaf  from  ALaud's  Sketch-Book 

27 

The  Photographer,  Mr.  Jenkins  . 

29 

Diving  for  Coins  .... 

31 

Birthplace  of  Josephine 

3- 

Tlie  Professor  fishing  for  Sea-Weed 

33 

Maud  and  Senhor  Silva  passing  the 

Light-Ship    .... 

35 

Ascending  the  Para  River 

38 

The  Assai  Stand. 

40 

Tropical  Plants    . 

41 

Indian  Girl  . 

42 

Carrying  the  Sick  Child 

43 

Rocket  Prayers    . 

47 

The  Temple  of  I  sis     . 

53 

Siphonia  Elastica 

57 

A  Rubber  Settlement  . 

59 

After  a  Lizard 

62 

ALanufacture  of  Rubber 

63 

.Maud's  Sketch  in  the  Rubber  Swamp 

65 

Mr.  Jenkins  takes  the  Girls  into  Con- 

fidence  

66 

In  Confidence 

71 

Mr.  Jenkins's  Opponent  at  Cards 

Old  Crone  spinning 

Indian  Idea  of  an  Eclipse    . 

Indians  singing  Mass 

Child   asleep   in    the  Sliadow  of 

Cross     .... 
Senhor  Palacios'  \'alet 
Javary  Palms 

Orchids         .... 
Head  of  Swimming  Tapir    . 
The  Cottage  at  the  Fazenda 
Graciliano  spearing  Fish 
The  Pirarucu 

Pedro  returning  from  Fishing 
Indian  Child's  Hobby-Horse 
The  Praise  Priest 
Canoeing  in  a  Submerged  Forest 
Seeing  them  off  . 

Pedro  

The  Professor  at  Work 

A  Giant  of  the  Forest 

Jaguar  fishing 

The  Dried  Leaves  Animal  . 

A  Halt  in  the  Forest   . 

"A  Ringing  Shot  pealed  throng 

Air"      .... 
The  Senhor  reads  and  disapprov 
Tiie  Professor  botanizing    . 
Tropical  Foliage  . 
Macaws        .... 
'■  I   have  had  quite    enough    of 

man "     . 
Victoria  Regia 
Maud  has  a  Suspicion 


th( 


the 


that 


PAGE 

75 
77 
So 

85 

91 

92 

93 

97 

99 

loi 

107 

108 

III 

i'3 

117 

120 

123 
124 
124 
125 
129 
132 
135 

133 
143 
146 

147 
148 

150 

151 
157 


X 


ILL  USTRA  TIONS. 


Iheolino  Cataract 
Laldeirao  do  Inferno  . 
Moutlj  of  Liitreal  River,  Madeira 
Caripuna  Indian  luintinjj 
liark  Canoe  of  Caripuna  Indians 
Indian  Dogs 

Mr.  Jenkins  reveals  himself 
Tapuyo  Indian  River  Craft 
Bolivian  Merchant 
Kxaltacion    . 
Sword- Dance 
'•(lol"  Victoria  exclaimet 
I'cru     .... 
dates  hewn  in  the  Rock 
I'cak  after  Peak  . 


rA>:E 
\U\ 
165 
167 
1 63 
169 
»7i 
■75 
177 
•79 
18 1 
185 
188 
191 
•97 
•99 


Inca  Huayna  Ccapac  . 

Inca  Tupac  Yupanqui 

Inca  Yupanqui     . 

Spanish  Monastery 

Effigies 

The  Farewell  Tree 

The  Apurimac 

Andean  Peaks 

Pizarro  on  the  Road  to  Cuzco 

Cliimborazo 

Cotopaxi 

Spanish  America 

The  Hacienda  Mirandella 

Graciliano  and  the  Letter 


204,  2 


07, 


PACE 
202 

-03 
203 
205 
208 
209 
217 
219 
221 
224 
225 
227 

231 
235 


THREE  VASSAR   GIRLS 

IN   SOUTH   AMERICA. 


CHAPTER    I. 


THE    START. 


AUD  stood   in  her   tiny   studio,   high   up 
under  the   chimes  of  Grace  Church, 
while   below   her   Broadway   surged 
like  a  turbid,  restless  ri\er. 
Maud    had   worked    here    unremittingly  all 
winter,  but  now  her  Easter  orders  were  tilled, 
and  the  last  lily-decorated  banner  had  left  her 
work-table.     There  were  signs   of   spring   in 
the  parks,  where  the  sod  w'as  green  and  the 
trees    a   blur   with    bursting    leaf-buds;    there 
were    signs   of   spring,  too,   in   the    shop  win- 
dows, furs  having  been  packed  away  in  cam- 
phor-gum, and  suffocating   feather   trimmings 
replaced  by  crisp    French    flowers,   and    airy 
lawns  and  laces.     The  south  wind  blew  softly, 

"Then  longen  folk  to  gon  on  pilgrimages." 

A  great  restlessness  possessed  Maud;  her  studio  walls  seemed  to 
be  closing  in  around  her,  and  the  migratory  feeling  which  beats  in 
the  breast  of  the  swallow  woke  in  her  heart,  —  she  must  go  some- 
where.    Her  life  had  grown  monotonous  and  narrow;  she  was  hungry 


12  THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

for  a  glimpse  of  broader  horizons.  There  was  a  modest  little  store 
before  whose  windows  she  always  paused  on  her  goings  up  and  down 
Broad\va\-,  a  trunk  store,  with  a  tempting  array  of  steamer-chairs, 
sole-leather  and  canvas-covered  packing-cases  displayed  upon  the 
sidewalk,  antl  tantalizingly  suggestive  bags  and  reticules,  lunch-bas- 
kets and  toilet-cases,  wicker-co\'ered  flasks,  Russia-leather  hand-bags, 
and  other  oil-skin  or  rubber-cased  paraphernalia  of  a  strictly  business- 
like aspect,  or  daint}-,  satin-lined  luxuries,  reminding  one  how  easy 
the  march  of  civilization  had  rendered  journeys  which  were  once  full 
of  hardship  and  privation.  On  this  particular  morning,  Maud  had 
even  entered  the  store,  and  had  inquired  the  price  of  a  particularl}- 
neat  sketch-box.  Her  Angers  lingered  enviously  over  the  useful  and 
ingenious  space-saving  appliances,  and  she  put  it  from  lier  with  a 
regretful  sigh.  Nearer  home  she  had  caught  a  glimpse,  through  a 
conservatory  door,  of  rich  tropical  foliage,  palms,  tree-fans,  and 
orange-trees,  and  memories  of  where  she  had  last  seen  them  in  wild 
luxuriance  came  drifting  thick  upon  her.  ISIaud  was  lonely,  too; 
her  mother  had  taken  her  invalid  husband  abroad,  and  ]Maud  had 
remained  bravely  at  her  post  of  duty,  sending  regularly  the  little 
drafts  which  purchased  the  rest  needful  to  restore  her  father  to  vigor. 
Maud  could  not  afford  to  take  a  vacation.  If  only  some  opportunity 
would  present  itself  of  combining  travel  and  money-making!  but 
nothing  seemed  at  present  more  unlikely.  She  was  not  just  the 
person  for  a  companion  to  an  invalid,  or  governess  for  unruly  chil- 
dren. She  thought  of  her  two  Arm  friends,  Cecilia,  studying  music 
in  Germany,  and  Barbara,  happily  married  in  England,  and  she  was 
not  greatly  to  blame  if  a  little  feeling  of  envy  crossed  her  usually 
contented  and  self-reliant  spirit.  She  looked  out  of  her  studio  win- 
dow straight  up  toward  the  sky,  and  she  could  see,  far  above  the  spire 
of  Grace  Church,  a  straggling  flock  of  wild  geese  flying  north.  The 
long  V  line  was  broken,  ibr  they  had  come  fiir  and  were  wear}-  of 
wing,  and  latterly  their  ranks  had  been  thinned  by  the  sportsman's 


THE  START. 


13 


gun;  but  the  leader  kept  bravely  on,  with  his  beak  pointed  due  north, 
as   thouirh    he  carried  a  loadstone  in  his  breast  instead  of  a  heart. 

o 

Maud  stretched  her  arms  as  though  they  were  wings,  —  had  she 
stood  on  tlie  parapet  just  outside  the  window  she  might  have  leaped 
off,  the  feeling  that  she,  too,  must  liy,  was  so  strong  within  her. 

Just  then  a  letter  was  slipped  beneath  her  door.  She  looked  at  it 
for  a  moment  without  opening  it.  "If  this  letter  contains  any  possible 
suggestion  in  the  way  of 
travel,"  she  said,  "I  will 
accept  it."  Oddly  enough 
this  was  just  what  the  let- 
ter brought.  It  was  from 
a  Vassar  friend.  Delight 
Holmes,  the  daughter  of  a 
western  professor.  Maud 
remembered  her  as  a 
shrinking  little  freshman, 
with  light,  tiuffy  hair,  and 
beseeching  eyes,  whom 
she  had  helped  and  be- 
friended in  her  own  sen- 
ior year  at  college.  How- 
ever, that  was  two  years 
ago,  and  there  had  been 
time  for  Delight  to  blossom  into  more  of  self-reliance,  and  Maud  opened 
her  letter  with  a  warm  feelinof  of  interest.     It  read  as  follows: 


DELIGHT   HOLMES. 


"Fossil-Leaves  on  the  Paradise,  Kansas. 

"Dearest  Maud, — There  is  really  not  much  use  in  my  writing,  for  we  shall 
soon  be  in  New  York,  but  I  have  a  proposal  to  make,  and  I  want  you  to  be 
thinking  it  over. 

"  Father  has  at  last  received  the  commission  which  he  has  so  long  desired,  to 
make  an  expedition  to  the  Amazon,  and  mother  and  I  will  accompany  him  to 


J.  THREE    V'ASSAR  GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

South  America.  It  will  be  the  crowning  work  of  father's  life.  His  theories 
are  already  developed  and  his  book  half  written  ;  he  only  needs  personal  obser- 
vation to  correct  mistakes  and  to  add  proof.  It  is  very  necessary  that  the  book 
should  be  illustrated,  and  means  have  been  provided  for  an  artist  to  accompany 
the  party.  The  compensation  which  father  can  offer,  beyond  travelling  ex- 
penses, will  only  be  five  hundred  dollars,  and  we  shall  be  gone  at  least  five 
months.  I  am  ashamed  to  offer  you  so  paltry  a  sum,  but  we  know  of  no  one 
else  to  ask.  Will  you  come  with  us  for  the  sake  of  friendship  and  the  good 
time  we  will  surely  have  together.^  We  will  sail  from  New  York  on  W'ednesday, 
the  15th. 

"  I  must  n(^t  neglect  to  say  that  the  friend  who  has  made  this  possible  is  Mr. 
Delavan,  the  father  of  my  Vassar  chum,  Victoria  Delavan.  He  is  a  very 
wealthy  man,  and  has  become  interested  in  father  J;hrough  our  friendship.  Last 
week  he  sent  us  five  round-trip  tickets,  supplemented  by  a  generous  check. 
Victoria's  mother  died  last  winter ;  she  has  been  with  us  ever  since,  and  is 
going  out  with  us.  Indeed,  it  is  she  who  has  engineered  the  trip.  She  is  a 
magnificent  girl,  and  I  want  you  to  know  her  better.  I  think  you  were  scarcely 
acquaintances  in  the  old  Vassar  days.  Father  is  rather  lame  in  Portuguese, 
and  when  I  told  him  that  you  had  been  to  Portugal,  and  understood  the  language, 
he  declared  that  this  was  an  additional  reason  why  you  must  go  with  us. 

"  I  am  sure  you  have  not  the  heart  to  disappoint 

"  Your  friend,     Dklight  Holmes." 

Maud  clapped  her  hands  in  her  jo}-;  a  door  of  escape  had  been 
opened  to  her,  and  the  very  opportunity  for  which  she  had  so  longed, 
to  visit  new  lands,  presented  at  the  same  time.  Her  father  and 
mother  were  visiting  her  sister  Lily  now.  Lily  was  the  wife  of  a 
naval  officer,  settled  for  a  few  years  in  a  charming  villa  at  Nice,  the 
five  hundred  would  be  more  than  they  would  need  for  the  coming 
season,  and  with  her  own  expenses  paid,  what  more  could  she  desire? 
She  hurriedly  wrote  to  her  parents,  detailing  the  scheme,  and  quite 
sure  in  advance  of  the  reply,  stopped  that  afternoon  at  the  trunk 
store,  and  secured  the  travelling  sketch-box  which  she  had  so  nmch 
admired. 

Maud  was  right  in  expecting  her  parents'  approval,  for  a  cablegram 


THE  START. 


15 


was  soon  received  announcing  their  consent.     Processor  Holmes  was 
known   to  them  personally  as  a  man  of  the  strictest  inte<n-itv,  and  of 


MAUD   BUVING   THE   SKETCH-BOX. 

cool-headed  caution,  and  in  Maud,  herself,  her  parents  had  unlimited 
confidence.  She  was  twenty,  had  twice  travelled  in  Europe,  was 
self-reliant  and  equal  to  any  ordinar}-  emergency. 


i6 


THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  IX  SULTIl  AMERICA. 


Mrs.  Holmes  was  a  gentle,  motherly  woman,  lady-like  and  refined, 
intelli«;ent  and  self-sacrificing.  It  seemed  to  Maud,  at  first,  that  she 
was  simply  Delight  grown  older,  with  a  square  of  black  lace  on  the 
same  light  mass  of  curls;  but  as  she  came  to  study  her  iViend,  she 
realized  that  there  was  more  to  Delight  than  she  had  at  first  fancied. 
She  possessed  the  good  qualities  of  both  her  father  and  mother;  with 
the  sweet  lovableness  there  was  combined  an  eager,  devouring  love 
of  study,  which   had   swept  the   college  curriculum,  so   far,  as  a  river 

inundates  the  lowlands,  but  was  des- 
'      ""    i'^'^  tined  to    settle  back   into    her    own 

proper  channel  of  botan}-.  Already, 
Delight  Holmes  knew  more  about 
ferns  than  any  other  girl  in  America. 
She  had  a  noble  collection  packed 
away  in  hcrbarii,  in  her  father's 
study,  and  a  number  of  the  Vassar 
girls  who  had  travelled  had  sent  her 
specimens  from  foreign  lands.  This 
journey  was,  consequent!}',  a  grand 
opportunitv  lor  her  as  well  as  lor  the 
Professor,  who  was  concerned  prin- 
cipally in  fossils  and  in  the  glacial 
period.  Delight  had  also  a  third 
nature,  peculiarl}'  her  own,  marked 
by  a  sweet  cheerfulness  which  the 
most  ad\erse  circumstances  could  not  dampen.  There  were  dark 
days  in  store  for  tliem  all,  but  throuirh  the  irloomiest  she  shone  like  a 
"candle  on  a  candlestick,  giving  liirht  unto  all  that  were  in  the  house." 
Professor  Holmes  was,  of  course,  the  centre  and  heart  of  the  expe- 
dition. He  had  worked  for  it  many  years,  and  his  face  was  aglow 
with  the  joy  of  a  man  who  is  about  to  grasp  the  prize  of  his  life. 
Maud  trembled  when  she  saw  how  very  frail  he  was;  but  he  was  iiill 


,v; 


PROFESSOR   HOLMES. 


THE   START. 


17 


of  energy  and  enthusiasm,  his  clear,  gray  eye  shone  with  cheerful 
hope,  and  his  voice  had  an  exultant  ring.  lie  was  eager  to  be  oti', 
and  when  the  steamer  really  did  sail,  Delight  said  that  her  father 
would  have  leaned  against  the  mainmast  all  the  way  if  by  pushing  he 
could  have  helped  it  one  inch  upon  its  course. 

Victoria  Dehuan  was  as  yet  an  unknown  quantit}',  and  Maud  eyed 
her  curiously,  not  at  all  certain  whether  she  would  like  or  dislike.  So 
far  she  had  only  shown  herself 
a  tall,  languid  girl,  with  beau- 
tiful eyes  and  an  aristocratic 
nose;  solitaires  glittered  in 
her  ears,  and  she  was  expen- 
si\cly  dressed  in  the  latest 
Parisian    styles. 

Maud  wondered  whether  a 
separate  boat  would  be  char- 
tered to  convey  her  wardrobe 
up  the  Amazons.  In  arrang- 
ing her  own  wardrobe,  Maud 
had  acted  on  the  principles 
governing  a  soldier  preparing 
for  a  long  march.  So  rigid 
had  been  her  retrenchment 
that  she  had  even  had  her  hair 
closely  cut,  imparting  a  still  more  boyish  cast  to  her  frank  face. 

"No  telling,"  she  had  explained,  "but  we  may  reach  lands  where 
hair-pins  are  not  indigenous;  and  we  may  not  be  fortunate  enough 
to  encounter  Fragoso,  Jules  Verne's  wandering  barber  of  the  Am- 
azons." 

The  appointed  morning  dawned  brightly,  and  the  party,  escorted  by 
a  retinue  of  friends,  found  themselves  on  board  the  steamship  "  Ad- 
vance," of  the  United  States  and  Brazil  mail  line. 


VICTORIA. 


i8 


THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  L\  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


O 


Those  of  Maud's  acquaintances  who  were  not  on  the  wharl"  in 
liruoklyn  had  sent  good-bv  «,nfts,  and  she  had  never  realized  her  pop- 
ularity so  much  before.  Lotta  Fanning  sent  a  basket  of  pineapples 
and  bananas,  with  the  explanation  that  there  was  nothing  like  get- 
tin*'  used  to  the  dirt  betbrehand.  Edith  Richland  carried  her  to  the 
steamer  in  her  carriage,  and  there  were  books  and  flowers  to  testify 
to  the  kindly  feeling  of  others.  "If  people  really  regret  my  going," 
said  Maud,  "I  shall  be  glad  to  return.  I  did  not  know  that 
I  had  so  many  friends." 

Mr.  Dclavan  himself  was  there,  ha\ing  come  on  from  the 
West  with  his  daughter  and  the  Professor's  family,  deter- 
mined to  sec  that  the  expedition  started  in  good  order. 
Mr.  Delavan  might  have  stood  as  a  type  of  the  successful 
capitalist;  while  his  glance  was  keen  and  his  face 
seamed  with  lines  indicative  of  shrewdness,  ^"^If^iV 
there  was   a   certain    comfortable 


good  nature  suggested  by 
his  kindly  smile  and  the 
generous  outlines  of  his 
portly  figure.  He  had 
brought  a  bundle  of  the 
latest  newspapers,  damp 
from  the  press.  "^'ou 
will  be  ijrlad  enouixh  to 
read  them  before  you  reach  Para,"  he  replied,  in  answer  to  his  daugh- 
ter's amused  glance. 

"But,  papa,"  Victoria  jMotested,  "  of  what  possible  interest  to  us 
are  the  stock  quotations  and  police  news?" 

"Ah I  just  there,"  Mr.  Dclavan  replied,  "is  a  rcmarkabh'  juicy  bit 
of  information.  A  Mr.  Bartlett,  corresponding  secretary  of  the  lirm 
of  Gold,  Glitter  &  Co.,  has  just  absconded  with  an  enormous  amount  of 
cash.     He  had  the  firm's  implicit  confidence,  and  was  a  genius  in  his 


THE  START. 


19 


15000.   MWAVJDfl! 

absconded; 

Jokn  AuiO'altc.s  JBarllett. 

o 

tfivi-lfioii-.n,..ct  Jo(W.\  ll/.<(.f«/v<la'tt 

IllfSirrf  Gol.L  Qfati.'i.Cu. 

^l"^^^...f.;^^^|.,lIo...■.   £M.,.^^.r»„tt  a.>^  li,u.,l- 
Wnitjou  ,  ■•^l.i-t.<ii..|.ulioi>  ,l'V''  lii»-.«.ivi< 
IVI.«U«  d,c,»i,rt  MvE..il.i'.  4^1^ 

.  CioWiairvJlet-ectiifi  Ajtncy 


T 


way,  being  thoroughly  conversant  with  five  languages.  It  is  sup- 
posed that  he  sailed  for  Europe  on  one  of  yesterday's  steamers;  but 
detectives  are  on  his  track,  and  he  will  certainly  be  caught." 

'^Only  to  think!"  exclaimed  Maud,  ''he  may  even  be  on  this  vcr}' 
steamer.     I  wonder  whether  we  shall  meet  him." 

'^  You  will  find  his  description  in  that 
paper,"  replied  Mr.  Delavan,  '^  but  very 
probably  he  is  cleverly  disguised." 

''  Do      read     it,"     Delight     begged. 
'''There  are   certain   characteristics,  as 
the  color  of  the  eyes,  which  cannot  be 
disguised,  and  I  would  like  to  be  able  ; 
to  recognize  him."  ^ 

I: 

Victoria  took  up  the  despised  paper 
and  read:  "  Mr.  Bartlett  is  a  person  ol 
medium  height,  of  prepossessing  ap- 
pearance and  handsome  face,  showing 
the  striking  combination  of  light  com- 
plexion and  hair  with  dark  eyes.  He 
dressed  his  whiskers  in  the  English 
style,  affecting  English  mannerisms, 
also,  in  speech  and  toilet.  He  was  a 
good  talker,  and  an  accomplished  lin- 
guist, speaking  French,  German,  Span- 
ish, and  Portuguese  with  equal  fluency. 
He  had  carried  on  extensive  correspondence  for  the  firm  with  houses 
in  Bordeaux,  Marseilles,  Hamburg,  Bremen,  Barcelona,  Lisbon, 
and  Oporto,  and  it  is  naturally  supposed  that  he  will  seek  refuge 
in  one  of  these  cities.  All  outgoing  steamers  are  closely  watched, 
and  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  detective  force  that  he  has  not  yet  left  the 
country.  A  reward  of  five  thousand  dollars  is  offered  for  his  appre- 
hension." 


<5  n,s 

Li\lGIA'ND 


f  LI  Ne'll-^ 


I 


FIVE  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  REWARD. 


20 


rHKEE    I'ASSAR   GIRLS  IX  ::iOi-TII  AMERICA. 


Wliilc  tlicv  were'  cliscussinu:  the  matter  in  the  most  animated  man- 
ner, tlie  Avarning-bell  rang  all  but  the  tourists  on  shore.  There  they 
stood,  makin<,^  a  gay  group  of  fluttering  ribbons,  scarfs,  and  curls, 
with  the  dark  background  of  tlie  wharf  with  its  bales  and  boxes. 
The  green  lira/ilian  flag  bellied  and  tugged  over  the  little  group  on 
deck,  displaying  the  cross  of  the  Order  of  Christ  and  the  sphere  of 
the  old  Portuguese  explorers.  INIaud  tore  her  tiowers  apart  and 
pelted  her  friends  on  shore  with  Jacqueminot  roses.  The  whole 
scene  was  pretty  enough  for  a  picture,  as  an   itinerant  photographer 

evidently  thought,  for  he  had  planted  his 
tripod  near  the  binnacle  and  was  taking 
instantaneous  views  by  the  dozen.  Mr. 
Delavan  pushed  his  w-ay  ashore,  the  Last  to 
leave  the  ship,  and  as  he  stepped  off,  the 
<'anir  plank  was  drawn  in.  The  engine 
gave  a  con\ulsi\e  throb,  there  was  a  shiver 
through  the  entire  frame  of  the  steamer, 
and  through  the  widening  space  between 
it  and  the  wharf  the  sliiny  water  rushed 
as  through  a  sluicc-wa}-;  but  at  that  mo- 
ment a  gentleman  hurried  excitedly  through 
the  crowd  and  leaped  on  board.  The  mo- 
mentum of  his  spring  threw  him  against  the  camp-chair  upon  which 
Maud  was  leaning,  jostling  her  slightly.  He  raised  his  hat  with  a 
polite  apology,  and  then  darted  down  to  the  cabin.  Maud  looked  up 
and  saw^  the  photographer  regarding  her  with  a  peculiar  expression 
of  interest.  "He  has  just  taken  your  photograph,"  Victoria  whis- 
pered, "with  that  distinguished  looking  gentleman  bowing  to  you. 
How  disagreeable  to  have  him  about;  he  will  be  photographing  us 
all  when  we  least  suspect  it.  I  wisli  I  had  thought  to  have  father 
forbid  his  pointing  his  camera  at  us.'' 

The  steamer  had  backed  into  the  main  stream,  had  turned  and  was 


IIKAZH.IAN    FLAG. 


THE  START. 


21 


slipping  down  the  harbor,  tlic  round  tort  on  Cilovcrnor's  Ishmd  was 
behind  them,  the  pretty  villas  gleamed  white  on  Staten  Island,  a 
Cunarder  just  beside  them  was  steaming  out  to  England  —  Maud 
might  have  tossed  a  ball  on  board,  and  how  widely  they  were  soon 
to  be  separated!  A  bark  whieh  had  seen  heavy  weather  was  being 
towed  in,  and  there  were  darting,  puffing  tugs,  lazy  sloops,  and  all 
manner  of  river  and  sea  eratt.  They  remained  on  deck  watching 
the  animated  scene  until  the  long  line  of  hotels  on  Coney  Island  sunk 
into  the  horizon,  and  a  heav}'  ground  swell  off  Sandy  Hook  sent  them 
to  their  state-rooms. 


22 


THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER     II. 


THE    VOYAGE. 


ITH  all  Mailers  experience  of  travel  she 
was  a  poor  sailor,  and  lor  several   da3^s 
sea-sickness  held  her  a  prisoner.       She 
could  hear  the  others  lausfhinof  and  chat- 
ting  in  the   cabin  and  on  deck,  for  since 
they  had  crossed  the  Gulf  Stream  the  sea 
was  smooth,  but  to  her,  life  was  a  giddy, 
nauseating  chaos,  and  she  realized  the   opinion    of 
one  of  William   Black's  characters,  "  It  is  a  sicken- 
ing thing  to  be  sick." 

She  had  hardly  strength  enough  to  stretch  out  her 
hand  to  the  smelling-salts  in  her  convenient  little  wall-pocket,  or  to 
scowl  at  the  stewardess,  who  would  persist  in  offering  her  that 
wretehed  beef  tea. 

But  one  morninir  the  waves  knocked  against  the  side  of  the  vessel 
in  a  gentle,  sleepy  way,  the  sun  shone  brightly  in  upon  her,  and  the 
air  from  her  open  port-hole  was  fresh  and  invigorating.  Delight 
came  in  and  helped  her  to  dress,  and  Maud  acknowledged  that  she 
might  feel  better  on  deck.  ""Though  I  never  can  get  there,  it  is  quite 
impossible,"  she  asserted,  closing  her  eyes  with  a  shudder. 

'■I  will  manage  it,"  Delight  said,  helping  her  to  a  seat  in  a  wicker 
arm-chair  just  outside  the  stateroom  door,  and  tucking  her  in  with 
fleecy  wraps.  Then  she  ran  away  for  the  steward,  and  presently 
there  were  men's  voices,  and  Maud  felt  herself  lifted  and  carried  upon 
deck.     Here  the  fresh  air  revived  her,  and  she  was  received  with 


THE    VOYAGE. 


23 


merry  greetings  Irom  the  rest  of  the  party.  Tlic  sailors  were  liea\  ing 
the  log,  and  she  found  herself  experieneing  a  languid  interest  in  the 
ship's  rate  of  speed.  She  changed  her  estimate  of  Victoria  as  she 
noticed  how  her  costume  had  been  modified  to  suit  the  exigencies  of 
travel.  Miss  Delavan  now  wore  a  flannel  travelling-dress,  with  a 
broad  alligator-skin  belt  fiistened  by  curiously  wrought  silver  clasps. 
She  was  not  a  beautiful  girl,  but  there  was  rare  intelligence  in  the 
quiet,  reserved  face,  and  if  there  was  disdain  there,  there  was  also 
true  nobility  of  character.     Maud  noticed  with  satisfaction  that  the 


HEAVING    THE   LOG 


diamond  ear-rings  had  disappeared.  "That  is  Delight's  influence," 
she  said  to  herself.  "One  cannot  be  long  in  the  company  of  that 
sensible  little  puss  without  following  her  example." 

Victoria  was  scanning  the  horizon  through  a  fleld-glass  oflered  her 
by  a  dark-skinned  Brazilian.  There  was  something  familiar  in  his 
attitude,  and  a  second  glance  told  her  that  he  was  the  polite  stranger 
who  had  been  so  tardy  in  coming  on  board. 

Delight  noticed  her  look  of  inquiry,  and  remarked,  "That  is  the 
Senhor  Jose  Ignacio  da  Silva,  a  wealthy  Brazilian,  who  is  returning  to 
his  estates  after  a  visit  in  the  north.     He  seems  to  have  taken   quite 


24 


THREE    VASSAR   u/RLS   EV  SOUTH   AMERICA. 


X 

^^. 


fefv^Hm 


a  fancy  to  Victoria,  at   least,  I  fancy  that  she  is  the  attraction,  though 
he  is  very  polite  to  us  all." 

Maud's  attention  was  now  attracted  to  a  modest  appearing;  young 
man  with  whom  the  Professor  had  been  conversing,  and  whom  he 
now  brought  forward  and  introduced  as  Dr.  Stillman. 

"  I  shall  feel  quite  secure,"  ?^Iaud  re- 
marked, '^  noA'  that  I  know  we  have  a 
ph\"sician  on  board." 

I  am  rather  a  student  than  a  practising 

physician,"  the 
young  man  re- 
marked, in  a 
deprcca  tory 
wav;  "  the  ink 
is  too  fresh  on 
my  d  i  p  1  o  m  a 
for  me  to  flour- 
ish my  jNI.  D.  pre- 
tentiously."" 

"And  so  you  arc 
going  to  South 
America,  to  make 
experiments  on  the 
natives?  "' 

*' Hardl}',"  he  replied,  "I  still  preserve  xwy  character  of  student, 
my  specialty  just  now  being  materia  nicdica.  We  are  indebted  to 
Brazil,  you  know,  for  many  of  our  most  powerful  drugs,  and  the 
object  of  my  journey  is  to  investigate  native  remedies,  and,  if  possible, 
add  a  few  new  ones  to  those  already  known  to  science." 

I  lis  manner  was  so  very  quiet  and  unassuming  that  his  intention 
seemed  the  most  natural  and  commonplace  thing  in  the  world. 
There  was  nothing  particularly  striking  about  the   little   doctor;   his 


MAUD    AND    THE    DOCTOR. 


THE    VOYAGE. 


25 


dress  was  inconspicuous,  his  hair  an  ordinary  shade  of  brown;  his 
eyes  could  only  be  guessed  at,  for  they  were  hidden  behind  spectacles 
ot"  London-smoke,  but  ^Nlaud  had  not  the  slightest  doubt  that  they 
were  inotiensively  gray.  For  some  reason  the  Professor  liked  him, 
probabh^  because  he  was  something  of  a 
botanist,  and  for  his  gentle,  respectful  man- 
ner, but  ]Maud  felt  that  his  presence  was 
rather  unnecessary,  and  hoped  that  once 
arrived  upon  the  Amazon  he  woidd  be- 
come so  much  interested  in  sarsaparilla 
and  Peruvian  bark  as  to  lose  sight  of  their 
part}'.  Victoria,  who  joined  them  soon 
atter,  ignored  his  presence  altogether,  and 
if  Delight  was  kind  to  him,  it  was  only 
because  it  was  an  impossibility  for  De- 
light to  be  rude  to  any  one.  Senhor  Silva 
came  forward  and  was  introduced;  he 
spoke  English  without  accent,  but  he  was 
very  foreign  looking.  His  hair  curled 
closely  to  his  head  in  jetty  rings,  and  his 
complexion  was  more  than  sallow,  it  was 
almost  saffron.  When  it  transpired  that 
Maud  had  visited  Portugal,  he  chatted 
pleasantly  of  Lisbon,  which  it  seemed  was 
his  birthplace. 

"I  became  slightly  acquainted  with  a 
family  of  3'our  name,  in  Lisbon,''  ]NLaud 
remarked;  and  the  Senhor  listened  with 
interest  while  she  related  a  little  adventure  in  the  Library  of  National 
Archives,  how  an  obliging  student  had  helped  them  translate  the  old 
records  of  the  Inquisition,  and  how  he  brought  his  mother  to  call 
upon   them;     and   Senhora    Silva,  in    her  turn,  extended    courtesies. 


SENHOR   SIL\-A. 


26  THREE   VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

takiiii,^  them  to  tlie  ncvcr-to-bc-lbrgottcn  graduating  exercises  of  her 
daugliter's  class  at  the  Convent  do  Bom  Successo. 

When  Maud  liad  tinislied  her  story,  Senhor  Silva  asked,  "And  did 
Tcsuino  or  his  sister  Candida  never  mention  a  half-brother  in  tlie 
wilds  of  Brazil?  " 

"  Thev  spoke  of  acquaintances  there,  but  I  do  not  remember  an} 
brother.'' 

*'Ah!  tliat  comes  from  remaininjr  so  lon^r  from  home.  I  must 
certainly  go  to  Lisbon  next  }ear,  and  bring  them  all  out  to  see  their 
myth  of  a  brother." 

"Then  are  3'ou  really  related?" 

"From  your  description  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  Senhora  Silva  of 
whom  you  speak  is  my  step-mother,  and  Jesuino  and  Candida  my 
half-brother  and  sister.  Was  not  the  mother  rather  stout,  with  dark 
hair  and  eyes,  and  had  she  not  a  mole  on  the  left  cheek?" 

"On  the  right,  I  think." 

"  Precisely.     Did  they  take  you  out  to  their  quinta  at  Cintra?" 

"No;  I  do  not  think  they  spoke  of  having  one  there,  and  we  were 
at  Cintra  several  da3's;  Jesuino  was  studying  at  Coimbra.  What  a 
queer  c^ld  town  it  is.     Did  3'ou  graduate  there?" 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  I  am  not  a  university  man.  I  emigrated  to 
Brazil  and  was  deep  in  politics  when  I  should  Ikuc  been  whisking 
my  student's  gown  through  the  college  cloisters." 

That  Senhor  Silva  was  related  to  her  good  Portuguese  friends  Avas 
at  once  a  passport,  and  for  the  remainder  of  the  voyage  he  assumed 
the  easy  footing  of  an  old  acquaintance. 

()l  tlieir  other  lellow-passengers  Maud  onlv  noticed  a  tonsured 
priest,  reading  his  bre\iary,  and,  j^tacing  the  upper  deck  alone,  a  sen- 
hora from  Rio,  returning  from  a  visit  to  the  North,  and  a  little  go\- 
erness  going  out  to  a  family  in  Pernambuco. 

Recovery  from  sea-sickness  is  always  rapid,  and  the  next  day 
Tvlaud  was  able  to  get  out  her  water-colors,  and  to  begin  a  sketch  of 


m^A  f»ooh^" 


A   LEAF    FROM    MAUD'S    SKETCH-BOOK. 


THE   VOYAGE. 


29 


the  open  sea.  She  was  sitting  under  the  shelter  of  the  smoke-staek, 
at  a  little  distance  Irom  her  party,  to  whom  Delight  was  reading 
aloud  from  Bates'  "  Naturalist  on  the  Amazons,"  when  a  broad  shadow 
fell  across  her  paper,  and  the  photographer  addressed  her: 

"Excuse  the  intrusion,''  he  remarked  glibly,  -'I  am  myself  an  artist 
in  an  humble  way;  my  name  is  Jenkins  and  I  will  be  obliged  if  you 
will  examine  some  of  my 


work." 

As  he  spoke  he  ottered 
her  a  package  of  photo- 
graphs, and  Maud's  artistic 
impulses  conquered  the  -■ 
slight  aversion  which  she 
felt  for  the  pushing  charac- 
ter of  the  individual.  She 
looked  over  his  views,  and 
inquired  if  they  were  for 
sale,  for  many  of  them 
were  \'ery  good. 

"I  regret,"  he  replied, 
"that  I  have  not  provided 
myself  with  sufficient  ma- 
terial to  dispose  of  any 
during  the  voyage;  but  if  you  would  fayor  me  with  an  order,  I  would 
be  happy  to  send  them  to  your  address. "  He  drew  out  a  pencil  and 
note-book  ready  to  jot  dow^n  the  numbers,  but  Maud  replied  that  she 
did  not  particularly  care  for  marines,  she  was  more  interested  in  faces. 

"Then  3'ou  will  enjo}'  looking  over  this  scrap-book,"  Mr.  Jenkins 
replied,  taking  one  from  the  inner  pocket  of  his  overcoat.  "I  have 
here  a  portrait  of  every  individual  on  board,  from  the  captain  to  the 
cook's  assistant." 

"How  did  you  induce  them  all  to  sit?"  Maud  asked,  incredulously. 


THE  PHOTOGRAPHER,    MR.   JENRINS. 


30 


THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


"They  didn't  know  they  were  sitting;  I  have  my  little  sneak-box," 
(lifting  a  canvas-covered  box  with  leather  straps,  an  extremely  in- 
offensive looking  travelling-bag),  "and  I  sit  with  it  under  my  arm 
until  I  catch  the  person  I  want,  then  I  sight  it,  so,  press  this  pneumatic 
tube,  and  pop  I   the  thing  is  done." 

"You  were  using  an  ordinary   camera  the   day  we   embarked"  — 

"Yes,  I  have  both,  but  lor  unconscious  instantaneous  pictures  there 
is  nothing  like  my  little  friend  here.  See,  I  have  caught  the  Professor 
in  the  midst  of  a  yawn;  there's  an  open  countenance  for  you!  and 
here  is  the  Brazilian  lady  sUl}-  taking  a  pinch  of  snuff  behind  her  lace 
handkerchief;  she  has  no  idea  she  has  gone  on  record  for  that  little 
weakness.  This  sailor  with  his  arm  extended  is  heaving  the  log.  There 
you  are  3'ourself,  with  that  Portugee  gentleman  bowing  to  you;  he  's 
an  uncpmmonly  uneasy  sitter;  he  seems  to  have  e3'es  in  the  back  of 
his  head;  as  soon  as  I  get  him  nicely  sighted  he  turns  square  round, 
or  wiggles,  or  tips  his  hat;  but  I  '11  have  him  3'et.  That  young  Doctor, 
too,  is  a  vexatious  specimen;  his  spectacles  are  regular  reflectors,  and 
throw  the  light  all  over  his  countenance.  I  wish  he  could  be  induced 
to  take  them  off  a  minute." 

"I  will  try  to  help  you,"  Maud  made  oflcr  impulsively.  "I  will  get 
each  of  them  to  pose  for  me,  and  then  you  will  have  a  good  oppor- 
tunity." 

The  next  morning  her  offer  was  forgotten,  for  they  were  steaming 
into  the  crater-like  harbor  of  St.  Thomas,  one  of  the  Virgin  Islands 
of  the  West  Indies.  All  around  them  on  sea  and  mountain  and  city, 
was  flung  the  conflagration  of  a  mid-summer  sunrise,  such  as  they  had 
never  seen  equalled. 

"It  is  like  a  transformation  scene  in  a  fairy  ballet,"  said  Senhor  Silva. 
The  Professor  gave  him  a  look  of  withering  scorn.  "Sir,"  he  ex- 
claimed, "it  is  the  New  Jerusalem!"  Maud  was  silent,  but  her  eyes 
were  filled  with  mist.  This  beauty  was  so  supernatural  that  it  called 
for  tears. 


THE    VOYAGE. 


31 


Soon  the  ship  was  surrounded  b}'  importunate  boatmen,  anxious  to 
ierry  the  passengers  to  the  shore.  In  one  boat  were  little  ragged, 
half-naked  blaeks,  sereaming  for  dimes.  Senhor  Silva  threw  some 
eoins  overboard,  and  the  shining  darkies  plunged  into  the  water, 
struggling  with  one  another,  until  one  vietoriously  reappeared  with  a 
nickel  in  his  mouth;  and  the  diving  was  repeated  as  Victoria  tossed 
more  small  change  over  the  ship's  side. 

Meanwhile  the  Doctor  had  secured  a  boat  and  was  assisting  the 
partv  into  it.  They  were  to  have  but  a  stay  of  six  hours  and  he  was 
eager  to  show  them  the 
picturesque  cit}'.  Senhor 
Silva  recommended  the 
place  for  the  cheapness  of 
its  bay-rum  and  cigars,  and 
pointed  out  the  island  ol 
Santa  Cruz  from  which  the 
rum  was  brought,  some 
forty  miles  awa}^  The 
Doctor  w^as  more  inter- 
ested in  the  history  of  the 
city,  and  showed  them  old  buildings  dating  back  to  the  time  of  the 
Danes,  and  unrepaired  ruins  from  the  hurricane  and  great  tidal 
wave  of  a  dozen  years  previous.  Maud  watched  with  admiration  the 
swarthy  blacks  coaling  the  vessel,  women  aiding  in  the  work  gayly 
attired,  and  the  proud  swing  of  their  powerful  bodies  suggesting  poses 
for  her  sketch-book. 

Victoria  entered  a  small  curiosity  shop  and  invested  in  souvenirs, 
a  set  of  pearly  fish-scale  jewelry  for  Delight,  some  rare  shells  for  the 
Professor,  and  some  barbaric  handkerchiefs  as  draperies  for  Maud. 

As  they  returned  to  the  vessel  the}'  found  themselves  in  company 
with  Mr.  Jenkins,  who  had  been  securing  negatives  of  West  Indian 
lile.     The  girls  spoke  of  him  as  they  were  arranging  their  hair  for 


DIVING    FOR   COINS. 


32 


THREE    I  ASS  A  R   (J/RLS  EV  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


dinner  in  tlic  drcssinjj^-rooni  and  Maud  related  her  eneounter  witli 
him  the  da\-  pre\  ious,  Victoria  paused  in  tlie  act  of  adjusting  a  Cape* 
jessamine  and  exchiimed,  '^  Maud  Van  \'eehten,  don't  you  see,  he  is 
the  deteeti\  e."" 

"How  ele\er  you  are,"  Maud  replied,  slowly,"!  do  believe  3'ou 
are  right,  and  he  suspects  Senhor  Silva  and  the  Doctor." 

"Not  Senhor  Silva,"  Victoria  replied  with   decision.     "How  could 

that  be  when  he  has 
lived  all  his  life  in 
Portugal  and  Brazil  ? 
But  the  Doctor,  that 
is  another  matter, 
and  I  confess,  that, 
as  I  study  the  case, 
there  are  suspicious 
circumstances.  I 
would  like  to  exam- 
ine his  ewes." 

Delight  laughed 
merrily.  "  Victoria 
talks  as  if  she  were 
a  physician  looking 
for  symptoms  of  a 
disease.  I  declare, dear,  you  would  make  a  good  doctor;  you  see  right 
to  the  causes  of  everything." 

"T  a  doctor,"  sneered  Victoria;  "the  very  ideal  catch  me  wasting 
m\-  life  in  that  way." 

"What  is  it  to  waste  life?"  Delight  questioned,  meekly,  but  Vic- 
t;)ria  was  too  deei-)ly  absf^rbed  in  her  new  train  of  thought  to  mark 
the  query.  "We  must  manage  to  make  him  show  us  his  eyes,"  she 
repeated,  "his  hair  is  probably  dyed,  it  has  just  that  look.  How  can 
we  abolish  the  spectacles?" 


i;ii;  I  iii'LALi:  oi'  j(iM:riiiM:. 


THE   VOYAGE. 


n 


The  opportunity  was  nearer  than  they  thought. 

After  the  stop  at  St.  Thomas  came  a  delightful  sail  amongst 
islands;  some  small  and  barren,  others,  like  Guadeloupe,  Martinique, 
and  the  Barbadoes,  covered  with  tropical  foliage,  or  shooting  to  the 
height  of  live  thousand  feet,  their  mountain  summits  hidden  in  the 
clouds. 

In  speaking  of  Martinique  and  of  the  Empress  Josephine's  girlhood 
here  Dr.  Stillman  grew  quite  enthu- 
siastic, and  in  his  unconscious  emo- 
tion lie  removed  his  spectacles  and 
wiped  them  carefully,  turning  his 
calm  glance  full  upon  the  three  girls. 
Delight  blushed  and  looked  away  un- 
easil}',  iNIaud  started  with  a  half 
gasp,  but  Victoria's  keen  eyes  glit- 
tered and  she  met  his  wild  gaze  un- 
flinchingly,—  his  eyes  were  uncom- 
monly handsome,  and  blue-black  in 
their  dark  melancholy.  For  an  in- 
stant there  was  a  hush  and  then 
Maud  heard  a  sharp  click  behind 
her  and  knew  that  Mr.  Jenkins  had 
secured  his  photograph. 

Now  came  glorious  moonlight 
nights.  Every  evening  showed  the 
pole-star  nearer  the  horizon,  until  Anally  it  set  altogether,  and  the 
constellation  of  the  Southern  Cross  came  in  sight.  The\'  hung  oxer 
the  ship's  side,  watching  the  glowing  phosphorescent  light  upon  the 
waters,  the  Professor  always  interested  in  fishing  for  sea-weed  and 
the  beautiful  medusae  or  jelly  fish,  and  Senhor  Silva  occasionally 
shooting  at  the  sharks  which  followed  the  vessel.  Sometimes  they 
sang.     Victoria  had  a   ringing  soprano.  Delight  a  rather  weak  alto, 


r  '  win 
^  if 0m 


THE  PROFESSOR    FISHING    FOR 
SEA-WEED. 


:«  I  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

Sciihor  Silva  a  tine  tenor,  and  the  Doctor  a  hill,  rich  bass  voice,  and 
many  a  favorite  sone:  was  sung  in  quartette  or  duo,  while  the  waves 
lapped  the  side  of  the  vessel  and  tlie  moonlight  flooded  them  with 
its  jjlamor. 

"I  do  not  believe,"  Delight  had  said  to  Victoria,  "that  the  Doctor 
can  be  the  defaulter.  It  does  not  seem  possible  to  me  that  a  bad  man 
could  sing  in  such  a  whole-souled  glorious  wa}'.'' 

"Ah!  little  Delight,"  Victoria  had  replied,  "have  you  never  heard 
it  stated  that  music  has  nothing  to  do  with  morals?  "*' 

"Crossing  the  line,"  furnished  the  occasion  for  much  sport,  and 
manv  rough  practical  jokes  among  the  sailors.  One  old  salt  was 
dressed  as  Neptune,  another  as  his  wife,  and  the  afternoon  was  given 
up  to  rollicking  carnival,  while  a  new  seaman  had  his  head  shaved  in 
no  very  gentle  manner.  The  equator  passed,  the}^  noticed  long  before 
they  were  in  sight  of  shore  the  vast  volume  of  turbid  fresh  water 
riowing  out  on  the  surface  of  the  salt,  since  its  specific  gravity  is  less, 
and  mixing  slowly  with  it.  It  was  the  might}'  Amazon  continuing  its 
course  in  the  ocean  after  it  escaped  its  banks.  The  Professor's  line 
brought  up  tangled  bits  of  foliage,  withered  and  torn  fragments  of 
palm  leaves. 

"  If"  we  could  descend  to  the  ocean  floor  in  a  diving-bell,"  said  the 
Professor,  "  we  should  see  the  debris  of  the  river  channel,  sandstone 
and  shale,  cut  away  and  brought  down  from  the  heart  of  the  continent 
with  deposits  of  vegetation, building  itself  gradually  into  a  sub-marine 
mountain  range." 

While  the  Professor  was  speaking,  Senhor  Silva  swept  the  horizon 
with  his  powerful  fleld-glass.  "The  lightship  is  in  sight,"  he  said. 
"We  are  nearing  Para,  and  there  I  must  bid  30U  farewell  for  a  time, 
for  I  have  business  to  transact  relative  to  the  purchase  of  a  small  cargo 
steamboat  to  ply  between  my  sawmills  on  the  upper  Amazon  and 
Para.  I  intend  to  launch  extensively  into  the  exportation  of  costly 
woods  for  cabinet  manufacture." 


THE    VOYAGE. 


35 


"What  are  some  of  the  woods  to  be  found  on  the  river?"  Maud 
asked.  "  I  remember  seeing*  some  beautilul  cabinets  in  Lisbon 
formed  of  a  marquetry  of  prceious  timbers  brought  from  Brazil  in  the 
time  of  the  tirst  explorers,  but  I  hardly  fancy  I  could  have  told  the 
names  of  any  with  the  exception  of  ebony  and  mahogany."" 

"Many  of  the  varieties  have  no  English  names,"  Senhor  Sil\a  re- 
plied. "The  ditierent  species  oi  Jacaranda  or  rosewood  head  the 
list,  then  comes  Palisander,  corrupted  from  Paolo  Santo,  a  violet-tinted 
wood,  the  JMoiracoatidra  or  zebra  wood,  the 
pao  d'arco,  a  rich  bi 
wood,  and  the 
tuya^  intricately 
mottled,  many  ^. 
kinds  of  cedar 
and  laurels,  with 
others  of  beau- 
tiful graining  or  mar 
capable  of  a  high  p 
Dye-woods  will  also 
\\\y  way,  with  others 
medicinal  character,  but  I 
am  principally  interested  in 
cabinet   timbers,    and    have 

made  a  partnership   arrangement   with   a  New   York  tirm  who  will 
make  it  their  business  to  introduce  them  into  the  United   States." 

"No  country,"  Maud  replied,  "is  paying  more  attention  to  build- 
ing at  present.  They  will  certainly  be  in  demand  for  mosaic  floors, 
wainscots,  and  interior  finishings." 

"  When  Papa  builds  the  house  which  he  has  always  promised  to 
give  me,  I  shall  order  all  the  wood-work  from  you,"  said  Victoria. 

Senhor  Silva  bowed.  "  I  will  give  you  an  opportunity  of  selecting 
and  marking  the  logs,  for  the  Professor  has  kindly  consented  to  visit 


MAUD   AND   SENHOR   SILVA    PASSING    THE 
LIGHT-SHn\ 


36 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


my  fazcnda.  We  will  make  an  excursion  into  the  forest  and  you 
shall  3'ourself  blaze  the  trees  which  you  would  like.  I  will  tind  you 
before  }uu  leave  the  city  and  will  certainly  arrange  to  make  the  trip 
up  the  ri\er  with  you.  I  am  sorry  that  my  engagements  make  it 
impossible  for  me  to  do  the  honors  of  Para." 

"  It  will  not  be  necessary,''  the  Professor  hastened  to  assure  him. 
■"  I  am  familiar  with  the  city,  and  Dr.  Stillman  has  kindl}'  agreed  to 
remain  with  us." 

Mr.  Jenkins  was  standing  so  near,  with  his  neck  outstretched  with 
such  an  expression  of  interest  as  the  Professor  made  this  remark,  that 
the  latter  turned  and  asked  the  photographer  if  he  wished  to  speak 
with  him.  Not  at  all  disconcerted,  Mr.  Jenkins  asked  the  hotel  at 
which  the  party  proposed  to  stop,  as  he  had  some  photographs  to 
deliver  to  one  of  the  3'oung  ladies. 

"The  Hotel  do  Commercio,"  the  Professor  replied. 

"Thank  you,"  said  Mr.  Jenkins  glibly,  "  it  is  very  possible  that  you 
may  see  me  again." 

Senhor  Silva  turned  on  his  heel  with  an  expression  of  disgust. 


PARA. 


37 


CHAPTER  III. 


PARA. 


HE  Para  River  is  the  southern  moutli  of  the  Amazons, 
which,  as  it  empties  into  the  Athmtic,  separates, 
^^  seemingly  to  form  a  delta,  the  great  island  of  Marajo, 
"  a  tract  of  land  as  large  as  the  state  of  New  York. 
But  ]Marajo  has  not  been  built  up  by  the  river;  it  has, 
on  the  contrary,  opposed  its  rocky  foundations  to  its 
current,  and  forced  it  to  either  side.  The  southern 
channel  is  the  one  more  easily  navigable,  and  eighty 
miles  from  its  mouth  has  been  built  up  the  cit}-  of  Para,  which  ma}' 
one  dav  become  the  metropolis  of  Brazil.  For  although  Rio  Janeiro 
now  surpasses  it.  Para  has  the  advantage  of  situation,  being  nearer 
the  ports  of  Europe  and  North  America,  and  with  water  communica- 
tion stretching  back  across  the  continent. 

As  they  sailed  into  the  harbor,  past  the  little  fort,  the  girls  scanned 
the  shore  with  interest,  pointing  out  the  palm-trees,  and  the  white 
houses  nestling  in  the  green  of  the  plantations,  with  tall  crosses 
marking  the  tiny  chapels  by  the  shore.  It  was  early  morning  when 
the  party  stepped  from  the  launch  and  were  surrounded  by  porters 
eagerly  demanding  their  baggage.  Dr.  Stillman,  noticing  the  Profes- 
sor's "-lance  of  mild  wonder  at  chanires  which  attracted  his  attention, 
sprang  to  the  front  and  led  them  to  the  picturesque  old  custom-house. 
Here  their  baggage  was  examined  in  a  court  resembling  a  cloister- 
garden  in  its  wealth  of  graceful,  large-leaved  plants. 

From  the  custom-house  they  passed  to  the  Hotel  do  Commercio. 
''Ah!  this  is  ghastly,"  Victoria  exclaimed,  opening  a  tiny  silver  vinai- 


38 


THREE    I'ASSAR  GIRLS  L\  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


orette   as  the   sickcninsr  odors  from  a  covered  drain  met  them  at  the 
doorway. 

''  They  are  the  spirits  of  fever  and  malaria,"  said  the  Doctor,  ^*  that 
we  shall  meet  more  than  once  on  our  journey  up  the  river." 

The  Professor  led  the  way  up  the  ancient  wooden  staircase  to  the 
balconies  overlooking  the  court3'ard.  Here  parrots  screamed  and  a 
monkey  tutiged  at  his  chain.  The  Doctor  pointed  to  the  vultures  soar- 
ing high  in  air,  with  the  remark  that  they  were  the  health  commission 
of  Para.      ''  But  for  these   scavengers,"  he  asserted,  "  the   Paranese 

Av  o  u  1  d  b  II  r  y 
themselves  in 
garbage." 

A  Av  h  i  t  e  - 
aproned  mulat- 
to now  ushered 
them  into  the 
breakfast-room 
temptingl}'  set 
with  c  1  e  a  n 
cloths  and 
white  dishes. 
"  Ah !  this  is 
Paradise  after  Purgatory,"  Maud  exclaimed,  pointing  to  the  long 
windows  reaching  to  the  floor  with  their  charming  view^s  of  the  river 
harbor  and  shipping.  The  Hotel  boasted  a  French  cook  and  the  bill 
of  f  u"e  was  not  remarkable  for  oddities. 

Maud  found  the  fried  bananas  delicious.  Victoria  ordering  ^ueijo 
Fhiinctigo  with  the  idea  that  it  was  some  preparation  of  flamingo, 
was  somewhat  chagrined  at  receiving  some  Holland  cheese.  The 
Doctor  told  of  the  experience  of  Lieut.  Gibbon,  who  was  asked  if  he 
was  fond  (^V"^  ivawas^^  the  pet  name  for  baby,  and  mistaking  the  word 
{ox  iruavas^  replied  that  they  were  much  better  when  preserved  than 


ASCENDINT.    THE    PAKA    RIVKR. 


FARA. 


39 


when  eaten  raw.  A  burst  of  laughter  greeted  his  assertion,  and  he 
was  asked  if  he  had  ever  eaten  one.  "  Hundreds,"  he  replied,  "  and 
I  will  take  one  now  with  the  greatest  of  pleasure." 

Mrs.  Holmes  was  seen  to  examine  her  bill  of  fare  with  something 
like  consternation.     "What  is  it  my  dear  ?"  asked  her  husband. 

"We  certainly  ought  not  to  stop  at  such  an  expensive  place,"  she 
replied,  "they  charge  one  thousand  live  hundred  reis  for  breakfast  I" 

"  But  a  thousand  reis  is  only  hfty  cents,"  explained  the  Prolessor, 
"and  seventy-hve  cents  is  not  an  exorbitant  sum." 

Alter  breakfast  the  Doctor  invited  the  ladies  to  a  drive  in  an  open 
barouche  —  the  Professor  hnding  himself  too  much  occupied  to  ac- 
company them.  The  light  was  so  dazzling  that  they  lifted  their  sun- 
shades, but  the  temperature  was  delightful.  They  drove  along  the 
Rua  dos  Mercadores  or  principal  business  street.  Mule-cars  ran 
through  the  centre  and  there  was  more  of  bustling  activity  than  Maud 
had  expected  to  tind  in  a  tropical  city.  "  The  morning  is  the  fashion- 
able hour  for  the  promenade,"  the  Doctor  explained.  The  shops 
were  of  various  colors  and  covered  with  gaudy  advertisements, 
while  the  display  of  goods  added  to  the  vivid  decorative  effect,  and 
gave  the  street  the  appearance  of  being  draped  with  pennons  and 
flags.  The}^  visited  the  market,  with  its  piles  of  pineapples,  mangoes, 
plantains,  and  oranges,  and  Maud  found  here  the  same  splendid  negro 
types  which  had  struck  her  in  Morocco,  women  with  their  heads 
bound  with  gay  'kerchiefs,  or  with  mops  of  bushy  hair,  their  white 
waists  slipping  off  their  glossy  black  shoulders,  and  their  laps  tilled 
with  some  rich-tinted  fruit. 

"We  must  patronize  the  Assai  stands,"  said  Mrs.  Holmes.  "The 
Professor  has  often  praised  this  national  drink  of  Brazil." 

"What  is  Assai?"  asked  Victoria. 

""It  is  the  name  of  a  palm,"  replied  Delight,  "from  whose  tVuit  a 
kind  of  sherbet  is  made,  which  is  said  to  be  very  refreshing." 

The   doctor  pointed  to  some   baskets  filled  with  a  dark   phun-like 


40 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


fruit,  and  showed  them  the  process  by  whicli  the  pulp  was  rubbed 
throu<'-h  sieves  into  jars  of  water.  The  beverage  was  served  to  them 
in  small  bowls  formed  of  calabashes.  Fastidious  Victoria  hardly 
sipped  hers,  but  the  rest  of  the  party  were  of  the  opinion  that  one 
might  become  very  fond  oi   it. 

"Mrs.  Agassiz  speaks  of  it,  you  remember,"  said  Delight.     "She 
i^ivcs  the  native  proverb,  and  translates  it  freely  for  us, — 


THE  ASSAI   STAND. 


'  Ouem  vein  para  Para  parou ; 
Oucm  bcbcn  Assai  ficou  : ' 


Which  is,  being  interpreted, — 

'Who  came  to  Para  was  glad  to  stay; 
Who  drank  Assai  went  never  away.'  " 

From  the  market  they  drove  to  the  Botanical  Garden,  where  Vic- 
toria, ordinarily  undemonstrative,  lost  her  heart  to  the  palms. 

"Why  don't  you  make  them  your  specialty,  this  summer,"  Delight 


PARA. 


41 


asked.     "You  will   have   a  grand  opportunity  lor  studyini;- them,  and 
there  are  at  least  two  hundred  ditlerent  varieties  in  South  America." 

"I  will  study  them,"  \''ictoria  replied;  '"'but  only  as  an  amateur,  for 
the   love  of   them.       I    never  ^r^^^si 


could  be  a  specialist,  as  you 
understand  the  term.  I  want 
to  roam  all  about  this  great 
tanirled  garden  of  the  world 
and  study  just  what  I  like, 
because    it    amuses    me,  and 


not  because  it  is  going  to  be 
of  any  special  use  to  any  one    IT 
se. 

The  Doctor  regarded  her 
with  a  respectful  pit}',  at  least 
it  seemed  to  ^Nlaud  that  both 
of  these  conflicting  emotions 
were  mingled  in  his  glance. 
"  It  seems  to  me,"  he  said, 
"  that  the  keenest  amusement 
is  found  in  things  that  are  of 
the  most  use,  and  in  stud}'- 
ing  the  nicety  with  which 
nature  adapts  them  to  our  '^J 
needs.  Take,  for  instance, 
a  discovery  recently  made  in 
this  verv  country.  A  patient  of  the  great  French  opthalmologist.  Dr. 
Wecker,  had  been  treated  for  Paniuis,  a  disease  of  the  e\e,  and  had 
only  been  partiallv  cured.  While  travelling  in  Brazil  the  malady  came 
on  again,  and  he  was  told  of  the  ycqiicriitx  bean,  which  the  Indians 
used  in  a  decoction  for  similar  trouble.  lie  tried  it,  was  completely 
cured,  and  sent  some  of  the  beans  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Wecker,  who 


TKOFICAL    PLANTS. 


42 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


also  experimented  \\\l\\  tliem,  and  announced  the  discovery  of  an 
entirely  new  remedy.  It  has  already  been  accepted  by  science,  and 
can  be  obtained  at  almost  ever}'  pharmacy  anywhere  in  the  civilized 
world. 

These  beans  are  of  a  bright  scarlet  color,  and  are  perforated  bv 
the  natives  and  worn  as  ornaments.  The  Indian  girl  we  met  at  the 
entrance  to  the  garden  had  on  a  necklace  of  them." 

"■  Why,   they   were    black-eyed    Susans,"  Delight    exclaimed.     "  I 

have  a  cup  of  them  at  home  that  an  old  sea- 
captain  brought  from  the  West  Indies." 

"The  botanical  name  is  Arbor  Precato- 
7'ius,  so  called  because  they  were  used  for 
the  beads  of  rosaries." 

"Then  if  an}-  Indian  had  trouble  with  his 

eyes,"  Maud  remarked,   "all  he  had  to  do 

was  to  stew  his  beads,  and  anoint  his  eyes 

^    with   the   hol\-  water.      If   he   were   devout, 

f/     he   might  ascribe  the  cure  to  the  efficacy  of 


his  amulet." 

'^■f^'^^"  '='^'^-  "Very    likely,    for    the    Indians    are    very 

superstitious;  but  they  have  drugs  of  their  own  which  work  in  quite 
as  magical  a  way.  IIa\e  you  ever  heard  of  the  curare,  'the  liquor 
which  kills  with  a  whisper'?  It  is  made  of  the  juices  of  various  plants 
and  attacks  the  nerves  of  motion,  the  heart  last  of  all,  so  that  the 
victim  is  to  all  appearance  dead  long  before  life  is  extinct.  He  can 
hear  but  cannot  speak,  is  conscious  of  what  is  passing  around  him  but 
can  make  no  sign.     No  antidote  is  known  for  this  terrible  poison." 

The  Doctor's  enthusiasm  once  excited  he  passed  fi-om  one  plant 
to  another  explaining  its  properties,  or  any  curious  facts  concerning 
its  growth  or  history.  Victoria  listened  with  a  well-bred  assumption 
of  interest,  but  she  told  her  companions  afterward  that  she  was  in- 
wardly raging.     "The   idea,"  she  exclaimed,  "of  his  forcing  upon  us 


PARA. 


43 


%5w^ 


a  lecture  about  his  old  drugs  when  all  I  wanted  was  to  enjoy  those 
exquisite  tiowers." 

He  atoned  lor  the  infliction,  however,  tor  he  drove  them  home  by 
way  of  the  Estrada  de  Sao  Jose,  and  here,  as 
Victoria  acknowledged,  she  tirst  saw  palms. 
These  were  royal  palms  imported  from  Mauri- 
tius among  the  most  beautiful  of  the  entire  fam- 
il}-.  One  looked  down  a  colonnade  of  stately 
columns  crowned  with  a  mass  of  feathery  fo- 
liage, shifting,  whispering  with  the  slightest  mo- 
tion of  the  air,  while  the  mast-like  trunks  are 
said  to  remain  perfectly  unmoved  even  in  storms. 

They  were   out-  ^^ 

side  the  city  when 
they  passed  an  In- 
dian woman  seated 
by  the  side  of  the 
road  in  an  attitude 
of  extreme  dejec- 
tion, a  bundle  of 
rags  lay  at  a  little  "(^4*%/' 
distance,  under  the 
s  h  a  d  o  w  o  t'  a  m  a  n  go 
tree,  and  from  tlie 
bundle  a  hand 
WMved  with  an  ac- 
tion expressive  of 
the  utmost  misery. 

The  Doctor  stopped  the  carriage,  and  leaping  down  from  his  scat 
beside  the  driver,  hurried  back  to  the  forlorn  objects.  Presently  he 
approached  and  motioned  them  to  go  on  to  the  city.  Looking  back 
they  saw  that  the  woman  had  risen  and  that  she  and  the  Doctor  were 


■  V.'' 


CARRYIXO    THE   SICK.   CIULD. 


44 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


supporting  the  sick  child  between  tlieni  in  a  small  hammock.  "They 
are  taking  it  to  the  hospital,"'  the  driver  explained.  "It  is  probably  a 
leper.-' 

It  was  sultry  noon  by  the  time  they  returned  to  the  hotel.  "I  have 
been  quite  anxious  about  you,"  said  the  Professor.  "  It  is  time  you 
were  taking  your  siestas.  You  will  have  sunstroke  if  you  run  about 
at  such  unnatural  hours." 

"Maud,"  Delight  called  sleepily  iVom  her  hammock,  just  as  her 
friend  was  dropping  into  a  dream,  "  does  this  remind  you  at  all  of 
\our  visit  to  Morocco?" 

"No,  dear,  it  is  very  different.  That  was  an  old,  old  civilization 
crumbling  to  dust;   this  is  a  new  world  just  born." 

"You  haven't  reached  the  newness  3'et.  We  will  find  tliat  up  the 
river.     i\re  you  not  wild  to  begin  your  sketching?" 

"  If  you  will  come  down  by  the  river-side  with  me  this  afternoon 
we  will  see  what  we  can  find  among  the  Indian  tvpes." 

Silence  succeeded  for  a  few  moments,unbroken  except  by  the  sleepy 
creak  of  the  hammock  ropes,  and  then  Delight  spoke  again,  "Victoria, 
what  book  have  3'ou  there?     I  verily  believe  you  are  reading." 

"The\'  are  some  manuscript  papers  of  Dr.  Stillman's  on  Indian 
poisons,  and  they  are  intensel}^  interesting." 

"  I  thought  you  did  not  care  for  his  old  drugs." 

"  Well  I  don't  sympathize  with  his  thirst  for  beneficence,  the  dis- 
covery of  new  remedies,  and  all  that;  but  I  always  had  a  liking  for 
chemistry.  If  I  had  lived  in  the  dark  ages  I  would  have  been  an 
alchemist  or  a  Lucrctia  Borgia,  just  for  the  fascination  of  seeing  the 
fluids  work." 

"Victoria,"  said  Maud,  "  I  believe  you  will  turn  out  a  genius  if  you 
onlv  will  work." 

"That  is  precisely  what  I  will  not  do,"  Victoria  replied. 

"O  Victoria,"  Delight  objected,  "you  do  work  w^hen  you  are 
inlerestcd  in  a  thing.     You  should  have  seen  her  last  year  at  College, 


PARA. 


45 


Maud.  The  scheme  for  this  trip  became  wliat  tlie  French  call  an 
u/ve  /ixee  with  her  and  she  made  all  iier  studies  tend  towards  it.  She 
^vas  like  the  3'oung  man  that  Ilamerton  tells  about,  who  was  prepar- 
ing to  be  an  explorer  and  who  used  to  upset  himself  in  the  lake,  and 
besides  swimming  and  riding  and  shooting,  learned  carpentry  and 
sewing  and  cooking  and  all  sorts  of  wood-craft  to  prepare  himself  for 
a  wild  life.  Victoria  took  private  lessons  in  taxidermy,  so  as  to  be 
prepared  to  mount  specimens,  and  the  other  accomplishments  of  the 
young  explorer,  with  the  exception  of  carpentry,  she  mastered  at 
home." 

"  I  should  think  you  would  have  found  taxidermy  ver\'  disagree- 
able," Maud  remarked. 

"I  did  at  first,"  Victoria  replied,  ^'but  I  came  to  understand  how 
one  can  become  an  enthusiastic  surgeon  even.  Bv  the  bve  I  ha\e 
changed  my  opinion  in  regard  to  Dr.  Stillman.  After  seeing  him 
help  that  poor  woman  with  the  sick  child  I  am  certain  that  he  is  no 
defaulter;  he  is  only  an  innocent  fanatic." 

The  afternoon  was  cool  and  pleasant.  The  dazzling  light  shim- 
mered now  in  long  slant  beams  instead  of  splintering  its  lances  from 
the  zenith,  and  the  girls  sallied  out  together  for  a  stroll  along  the  /v//ir 
da  Imperatriz  to  the  water  side.  The  wdiolesale  stores  were  closed, 
for  this  was  the  hour  when  the  well-to-do  merchants  left  business  to 
sit  in  their  gardens  sipping  coffee  and  smoking  cigarettes  with  guests 
who  sauntered  in  for  an  afternoon  chat.  Along  the  shore  canoes 
were  draw^n  up,  and  under  tlie  awnings  or  toldas,  the  girls  could  see 
the  shy  brown  faces  of  the  Indian  women,  or  the  bold  black  ones  of 
negresses.  They  had  come,  many  of  them,  from  long  distances  to 
market  their  wares  at  Para;  gaudily  decorated  pottery,  calabashes, 
Brazil  nuts,  fish  and  cacao.  Maud  was  attracted  to  one  boat  gay 
with  macaw^s  and  paroquets  wdiich  a  little  naked  child  was  feeding. 
A  jaguar-skin  hung  over  the  side  of  the  boat,  and  a  palm  branch 
drooped  from  the  awning. 


^6  THREE    W-ISSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

Altogether  it  was  an  iincommonl}'  picturesque  combination,  and 
Maud,  deliglited,  shook  out  lier  camp-stool,  and  unjointed  her  caseL 
Deliglit  threw  a  shawl  on  the  ground,  and  spreading  the  great  white 
sketching  umbrella,  seated  herself  by  Maud's  side,  prepared  to  read 
aloud  from  Southey's  History  of  Brazil.  The  Indian  woman  caiue  to 
meet  them,  her  hands  tilled  with  bows  and  arrows,  and  actuated  quite 
as  much  by  curiosity  as  by  a  desire  to  sell  the  articles. 

Victoria  examined  her  wares.  "These  arrows  are  poisoned,"  she 
said;  and  she  repeated  the  w^ord  ''  curare  f''  \n  a  questioning  way. 
The  woman  understood  her  and  nodded,  talking  volubly  in  the  ////- 
gna  gcraU  or  Tupi  dialect. 

"Will  you  see  if  she  understands  Portuguese?"  Victoria  asked 
of  Maud.  It  seemed  that  she  did  understand,  for  she  replied  to 
Mar.d's  questions,  that  the  poison  was  manufactured  by  an  Indian 
witch,  who  lived  far  up  the  river,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Obidos. 

"  I  wonder  whether  the  witch  can  manufacture  medicines  as  well 
as  poisons,"  Victoria  mused;  "if  so.  Dr.  Stillman  ought  to  have  her 
address." 

jNIaud  carried  on  the  conversation  a  little  further,  eliciting  the  in- 
formation that  the  witch  had  a  famous  remedy  for  the  teitiafia,  a  ma- 
larial fever,  and  that  her  name  was  Justimiama  dos  Reis. 

Victoria  made  a  careful  note  of  this,  as  she  declared  for  Dr.  Still- 
man's  benefit,  and  she  bought  two  of  the  arrows,  which  tipped,  as 
they  were  wMth  toucan  feathers,  were  very  decorative  objects.  A 
party  of  jauntily  dressed  Mamelucos,  or  half-breed  herdsmen,  stroll- 
ing that  way,  alarmed  the  girls  soon  after,  and  they  returned  to  the 
hotel  before  Maud  had  finished  her  sketch. 

The  next  day  was  the  Sabbath,  the  fete-day  of  Saint  Somebody, 
and  as  there  were  to  be  great  ceremonies  at  Nazareth,  the  party  took 
the  mule-car  for  the  suburb.  Nossa  Senhora  de  Nazareth,  in  her 
spangled  gauze  dress,  reminded  Maud  of  some  of  the  Spanish  images 
of  the  Virgin. 


PAKA. 


47 


Every  day  was  made  hideous  at  certain  hours  by  the  chmgorous 
ringing  of  bells,  which  was  managed  in  an  altogether  unique  waN'. 
Boys  mount  into  the  belfries  and  beat  lustily  upon  the  bells  with  ham- 
mers. As  the  girls  approached  the  church  they  could  see  them 
maintaining  their  vigorous  anvil  exercise,  delighting  in  the  discord 
which  they  produced  with  all  the  barbarous  love  of  ear-rending  noise 
which  our  northern  boys  indulge  in  on  the  eve 
of  the  orlorious  Fourth. 

The  ceremonies  were  rather  tawdry  than 
imposing,  the  only  startling  feature  being  the 
sending  up  of  rockets  by  the  devotees  which 
were  supposed  to  be  the  carriers  of  prayers  to 
heaven.  The  cemetery  seemed  to  be  the 
favorite  spot  for  religious  pyrotechnics.  Maud 
wondered  whether  the  idea  was  borrowed 
from  the  Chinese,  and  Victoria  suggested  that 
it  mic^ht  have  been  handed  down  from  the  fire- 
worshippers. 

On  Monday  the  Professor  manifested  some 
impatience  to  start  up  the  river,  but  Delight 
pleaded  for  a  longer  visit  at  Para.  "  We  have 
not  begun  to  explore  its  beauties,"  she  argued; 
■'and  you  ought  to  give  Maud  a  chance  to 
make  some  sketches  for  herself,  for  very  soon 
you  will  keep  her  busy  drawing  hideous  fossil 
fish.  Besides,  had  they  not  told  Senhor  Silva  that  they  would  leave 
on  the  Saturday  boat,  and  was  it  fair  not  to  keep  their  appoint- 
ment?" 

The  last  consideration  prevailed,  and  the  Doctor  took  them  again 
for  an  excursion  to  the  outskirts. 

They  started  at  earliest  dawn   and  drove  out  of  the   city  before   it 
had  full}'  awakened,  only  here    and    there    a    servant  was   yawning 


ROCKET    I'KAVEKS. 


48  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

sleepily  as  slic  stared  at  them  troni  behind  the  WMictian  blinds.  As 
the\-  left  the  streets  and  struek  the  broad  Una  road  the  sun  rose  and 
a  Hood  of  lii^ht  was  poured  over  the  fresh  leaves.  Larti:;e  shield- 
shaped  arums,  vines  and  trees  mixed  in  one  inextricable  tani^le. 
Strange  tiowers  starred  the  thickets;  everything  was  new  and  tropical 
and  interesting.  They  caught  glimpses  of  picturesque  rocinhas^ 
or  country  houses,  with  tiled  roofs,  and  walls  a  mass  of  vines,  and 
they  came  out  upon  the  banks  of  the  lovely  Una  river,  palm-shaded, 
with  drifts  of  butterflies  fluttering  over  its  placid  surface. 

''It  is  all  delicious,"  Maud  exclaimed,  '' but  it  makes  me  w^ild  to 
think  how  little  of  this  beauty  I  can  carry  away." 

"  Take  it  away  in  your  soul,  child,"  exclaimed  Victoria. 

'"And  so  I  shall,"  replied  ^Nlaud,  ''but  it  seems  selfish  to  enjoy  all 
this  and  do  nothing  to  make  others  enjoy  it  too." 

^'  I  wonder  we  don't  come  across  our  friend  the  photographer  spot- 
tinor  some  of  this  beautiful  scenerv,"  the  Doctor  remarked. 

"  Mr.  Jenkins  was  more  interested  in  human  types,"  Delight  re- 
plied.    "  I  do  not  think  we  shall  meet  him  again." 

Oddly  enough  they  came  across  him  that  very  evening.  The  girls 
were  paying  a  visit  to  the  shop  of  Monkey  Joe,  an  animal  store. 
■^'What  a  menagerie  it  is!"  Maud  exclaimed.  "Here  are  snakes 
and  armadillos,  monkeys  and  wild  hogs,  electric  eels,  and  every 
variety  of  queer  bird;  here  is  even  —  "  and  just  then,  from  the  outer 
yard,  where  the  larger  wild  beasts  were  kept,  Mr.  Jenkins  appeared 
with  his  sneak-box. 

"Have  you  been  photographing  the  animals?"  Delight  asked. 

"No  miss,"  he  replied,  "but  the  people  who  come  to  see  them. 
T^^Ionkey  Joe's  is  tlie  most  attractive  spot  in  Para.  Sooner  or  later,  all 
strangers  come  here;  but  I  haven't  yet  succeeded  in  shooting  the 
party  I  am  in  search  of." 

"Dear  me,  I  hope  you  don't  mean  to  assassinate  any  one!"  Maud 
exclaimed. 


PARA.  49 

Mr.  Jenkins  laughed,  and  asked  when  they  expected  to  start  up 
the  river. 

Victoria  had  no  intention  that  lie  should  be  inlbrnied,  and  drew 
Maud  away,  with  an  exclamation  of  enthusiasm  tor  a  strangely  human 
little  monkey  who  was  looking  at  them  appealingly  iVom  his  wistful 
black  eyes.  It  is  a  Coata,  Joe  says,  and  has  long  black  hair,  a  match. 
Victoria  thinks,  for  her  winter  furs.  Indeed  if  it  were  not  for  those 
expressive  eyes  peering  out  from  under  the  silky  bang,  the  monkey 
might  be  mistaken  for  a  muti". 

The  little  thing  came  shyly  down  from  its  perch  and  licked 
Victoria's  lingers,  and  she  was  further  interested  in  it  by  the  infor- 
mation that  it  was  an  orphan  and  had  sulked  since  its  mother  died, 
refusing  to  eat,  though  it  now  accepted  the  food  which  Victoria 
offered  it. 

Several  days  of  great  heat  succeeded,  when  none  of  the  party  cared 
to  remain  long  upon  the  streets,  and  they  realized  why  Brazil  was 
named  from  the  Portuguese  word  braza^  burning  embers.  '^  We  cer- 
tainly are  in  a  brazier,"  Maud  announces,  "  and  the  sooner  we  set  out 
upon  our  river  trip  the  better." 

"Perhaps  we  will  find  that  it  is  only  out  of  the  frying  pan  into  the 
fire,"  Victoria  suggests  languidly*;  but  she  has  hardly  force  to  object, 
nor  does  she  care  to  do  so,  now  that  the  time  agreed  upon  with 
Senhor  Silva  has  arrived.  It  is  rather  strange  that  they  have  neither 
heard  nor  seen  anything  of  him  in  Para.  Granted  that  he  was  too 
busy  to  call,  he  might  at  least  ha\e  sent  them  some  token  of  remem- 
brance; but  Victoria  is  sure  that  he  will  keep  his  appointment  with 
them;  and  they  leave  on  the  midnight  boat,  the  stars  shining  clear 
overhead  and  a  refreshino:  breeze  striking  them  as  the\'  steam  out  into 
the  Marajo  Bay. 

Half  of  the  upper  deck,  back  of  the  smoke-stacks,  is  assigned  to 
their  part}^,  and  here  they  fasten  their  hammocks  under  the  awning. 
They  scan    the  half  dozen    first-class    passengers    as    they  come   on 


50 


THREE    VA^SSAR  GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


board;   but  the  boat  is  off  and  away  and  the  Senhor  is  not  among 
them. 

Victoria  wraps  herself  in  her  travelling  shawl,  and  retires  to  her 
hammock,  taciturn,  and  even  ill-humored.  She  purposely  neglects  to 
bid  the  Doctor  good-night,  as  if  he  were  in  any  way  to  blame  for  her 
disappointment. 


A    PALMER'S  riLCRIMAGE. 


51 


CHAPTER   IV. 


A    PALMER  S    PILGRIMAGE. 


IT  certain!}'   seems  like    Sun- 
day," said  Delight,  tlic   next 
day    after    several    hours  of 
silent  voyaging;  for  the  dif- 
ferent members  of  the  expe- 
dition were  all  too  much   in- 
terested in  the  moving  pano- 
rama  of   the    shore   to    chat 
much. 
^'It    is    Palm   Sunday,    then," 
said  Victoria,  "  for  see  how  the}' 
spring  up  everywhere,  over-top- 
ping the  other  foliage,  and  break- 
ing into   fountains   and  waves   ot 
plumy  green  spray." 

''Yes,  the  palms  hold  revel 
here,"  said  the  Professor.  ^'I  can 
count  a  dozen  varieties  in  a  halt 
hours  sail  —  feathery  Jupatis 
drooping  over  the  river  side,  giant 
Min'/is,  like  the  columns  of  some 
temple,  graceful  Assais,  shooting  up  into  the  air,  true  rocket  trees, 
and  Bhssus,  with  their  elegant  wine-glass  outlines.  As  Professor 
Agassiz  says,  the  remarkable  common  character  which  palms  possess 
as  a  class  does  not  prevent  the   most  striking  difference  between  va- 


52 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


lions  kinds.  lie  goes  on  to  class  thcni  by  the  ditlcrcnt  arrangement 
of  their  leaves,  the  Baccabas  being  disposed  in  pairs  one  above 
another,  tlie  Jiiajas  in  cycles  ol"  five  spread  slightly,  so  as  to  lorm  an 
open  \ase,  the  Assai  has  an  eight-leaved  arrangement,  the  Cocoanut 
■pahii  disposes  its  leaves  in  groups  oi  thirteen,  and  so  on." 

■^Mrs.  Agassiz  describes  the  fruitage  of  the  palms  with  the  eye  of 
a  true  artist,"  ]Maud  remarked.  ^'' Only  note  the  sense  of  color  in  this 
paragraph : 

"^The  Baccaba,  or  wine-palm,  from  which  the  flowers  droop  in 
long  crimson  cords,  with  bright  green  berries  from  distance  to  dis- 
tance along  their  length,  like  an  immense  coral  tassel  flecked  here 
and  there  with  green,  hanging  from  the  dark  trunk  of  the  tree.  On 
the  Cocoanut  palm  the  flowers  burst  from  the  sheath  in  such  a  long- 
plume  of  soft  creamy  white  blossoms;  such  a  plume  is  so  heav}^  with 
the  weight  of  pendent  blossoms  that  it  can  hardly  be  lifted,  and  its 
eftect  is  very  striking,  hanging  high  up  on  the  trunk  just  under  the 
green  vault  of  leaves.' " 

"The  palm  is  the  providence  of  the  natives  of  South  America," 
said  the  Professor;  "it  serves  them  for  raiment,  shelter,  food,  drink, 
fuel,  cordage  for  hammocks,  nets  and  fishing-tackle,  its  wax  for 
candles,  and  its  oil  for  illuminating  purposes,  while  beautifying  the 
landscape  with  their  graceful  forms." 

"What  a  delightful  Palmer's  jMlgrimage  it  would  be,"  mused  the 
Doctor,  "to  follow  the  palm  around  the  globe,  through  all  the  coun- 
tries to  which  it  is  a  native,  —  to  And  the  date  palm  in  the  oases  of 
Africa,  to  note  its  sister  varieties  shading  the  ruins  of  ancient  Egypt, 
to  walk  through  Palmyra,  the  city  of  palms,  and  Elim,  where  were 
forty  j)alm  trees;  to  lind  it  again  in  Persia,  in  the  hanging  gardens 
of  Babylon,  in  India,  and,  in  short,  in  all  of  the  fascinating  lands 
of  the  Orient." 

"  That  is  almost  too  extensive  a  tour  even  for  my  imagination,"  re- 
plied Victoria.     "  IIow  many  varieties  of  palms  are  there,  Professor.-'  " 


A   PALMER'S  PILGRIMAGE.  cc 

"About  tivc  huiielicd  arc  knovsn.  The  must  complete  treatise  on 
the  subject  is  the  monograph  by  Martius,  u  large  work  containing 
over  two  hundred  colored  plates;  but  it  was  written  in  the  early 
hall'  of  this  century,  and  many  new  species  ha\  e  been  disco\ered. 
I  recommend  you  to  begin  a  monograph  ot  your  own." 

"There  would  be  a  certain  litness  in  your  taking  up  the  study  ol" 
palms,"  said  the  Doctor,  "lor  you  remember  that  the  early  significa- 
tion of  the  palm-branch  was  victory,  and  your  name  is  Victoria." 

"But  I  do  not  deserve  it,"  Victoria  replied.  "I  remember  reading 
a  poem  in  a  magazine  long  ago;  only  one  verse  remains  with  me: 

" '  O  fainting  soul  that  readest  well  this  story, 

Longing-  through  pain  for  death's  benignant  balm, 
Think  not  to  win  a  heaven  of  rest  and  glory 

If  thou  shalt  reach  its  gates  without  thy  palm.'" 

It  was  so  unusual  for  \^ictoria  to  express  a  sentiment  like  this,  that 
all  were  silent  for  a  moment.  It  was  her  own  voice  that  broke  the 
stillness  with  some  merry  remark  on  quite  another  subject. 

Their  life  on  board  the  river-steamer  was  quite  a  family  one. 
The  shore  side  of  the  upper  deck  was  given  up  to  their  use,  and  the 
long  table,  on  which  not  over-tempting  meals  were  served  them,  was 
strewn  between  mealtime  with  books,  writing  and  drawing  materials, 
specimens,  and  the  working  paraphernalia  of  a  naturalist.  Delight 
was  busy  classifying  and  fitting  in  her  herbarium  the  ferns  which  she 
had  collected  in  the  vicinity  of  Para.  Maud  sketched  constantly. 
Mrs.  Holmes  busied  herself  with  some  light  needlework.  The  Pro- 
fessor was  continually  taking  notes,  examining  the  hsh  which  were 
prepared  for  the  table,  making  observations  with  meteorological 
instruments,  or  flitting  to  ditferent  parts  of  the  boat  to  make  inquiries 
on  every  imaginable  subject.  Only  the  Doctor  and  Victoria  were  idle, 
and,  seated  in  reclining  chairs,  chatted  while  the  lovely  landscape 
glided  by.     It  was  the  Doctor  who  talked  most;  Victoria  only  listened. 


£;6  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

Maud  noticed  that  tlie  Doctor  conversed  generally  upon  the  subject 
in  wliicli  he  was  most  interested,  and  that  Victoria  in  spite  ol"  herself 
was  entertained.  Slie  asked  questions,  and  read  the  books  which  he 
lent  her,  dry,  technical  books,  she  would  have  called  them  a  short 
time  before.  ^Nlaud  was  indiscreet  enough  to  say  to  Victoria,  at  one 
time  when  they  found  themselves  alone  together,  that  she  thought  the 
Doctor  had  a  very  good  influence  over  her. 

\'ictoria  flushed  indignantly.  "You  are  greatly  mistaken,"'  slie 
replied,  "he  has  not  the  slightest  influence  whatever." 

^' I  beg  your  pardon,"  Maud  said,  coolly  touching  in  a  bit  of  cloud 
with  a  critical  air,  ^' then  the  improvement  may  possibly  be  Delight's 
influence." 

"What  improvement  do  you  mean?"  Victoria  asked  in  a  resentful 
wa}'. 

"  I  refer  to  your  sudden  interest  in  botany,  and  your  wakening  from 
your  old  listlessness.'- 

"  Have  I  not  a  right  to  be  listless  if  I  choose  ?  " 

"No,  I  think  not,  ^to  whom  much  is*  given,  of  him,  you  know,  much 
shall  be  required.'  " 

"Yes;  but  if  I  make  the  Professor  and  Delight  my  substitutes, — 
If  I  give  them  the  opportunity  of  doing  more  than  I  ever  could  per- 
sonally,—  I  should  think  my  responsibility  might  end." 

"  I  fear  I  have  oflended  you,"  Maud  said  more  kindly,  as  she  saw 
that  the  girl  was  really  in  earnest,  "but  Victoria,  I  do  not  think  any  of 
us  can  be  excused  from  personal  service  in  this  warfare.  Your  money 
is  being  put  to  a  noble  use,  but  the  world  has  a  claim  on  your  talent 
as  well." 

"  I  have  no  talent,"  Victoria  replied,  shortly. 

"If  you  are  sure  of  that  you  have  an  excuse  for  inaction;  but  be 
sure  you  do  not  send  in  false  returns  of  this  kind  of  property  to  the 
tax-collector." 

Delight  suddenly  appeared  at  this  juncture  with  the  news  that  they 


A    PALMHR'S  riLGRIMAGE. 


'r>7 


had  been  signalled  iVom  the  shore,  and  that  a  boat  was  approaching. 
They  conld  see  a  man  wa\ing  his  liandkerchief,  —  some  would-be 
passenger,  who  wished  to  be  taken  on  board.  Maud  eyed  the  figure 
intently,  contident  that  their  missing  friend  had  at  last  kept  his  ap- 
pointment, and  Victoria  took  more  than  one  long  look  through  the 
tield-glass  before  she  could  convince  herself  that  this  was  not  Senhor 
Silva,  but  as  the  boat  neared  the  steamer  a  simultaneous  exclamation 
of  recognition  burst  from  the 
party.      It  was  iNIr.  Jenkins. 

The  Doctor  seemed,  if  pos- 
sible, more  annoyed  to   meet 
him  than   the   others,  and  all 
felt  his  coming  an  intrusion. 
He  did  not.  however,  appear 
at  first  inclined  to  trouble  them  with 
his  society,  but  greeting  each  mem- 
ber of  the  party  with  a  familiar  nod, 
he  retired  with  his  camera  to  the  rear 
of  the  steamboat. 

They  w^ere  nearing  Breves,  where 
they  were  to  land.  Here  they  made 
their  tirst  acquaintance  with  the 
rubber  industry.     As  the  boat  was 

to  make  quite  a  stop,  an  excursion  was  planned  in  canoes  to  the  rubber 
swamps.  Mrs.  Holmes  was  sure  that  the  place  was  infested  with 
malaria  and  mosquitos,  and  did  not  care  to  go.  There  was  room  for 
three  beside  the  Indian  boatman  in  each  canoe.  The  Professor,  Victo- 
ria, and  the  Doctor  took  their  places  in  tlie  first,  Maud  and  Delight 
were  seated  in  the  second,  and  the  canoe-man  was  just  about  to  push 
away,  when  Mr.  Jenkins  hurried  up  with  his  sneak-box  and  begged  to 
'be  included  in  the  party.  They  could  not  refuse,  and  the  two  boats 
shot  from  the  shore  away  under  interlacing  boughs  into  the  dusk  and 


SIPHOXIA   ELASTICA. 


58 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


silence  of  the  forest.  Palms,  lianas,  and  a  dense  underbrush  were  all 
matted  and  tangled  together  on  every  side.  Their  guide  pointed  out 
the  rubber  trees,  the  Sipho7iia  Ehisiica^  and  they  noticed  the  gashes 
cut  in  the  bark,  and  the  little  clay  cups  set  to  collect  the  milk}-  sap. 

They  were  paddled  across  the  swamp,  to  the  hut  of  a  rubber-col- 
lector, or  seringuerio.  He  was  bent  with  ague  and  rheumatism, 
and  his  poor  home  was  built  on  stilt-like  supports,  to  raise  it  above 
llood-level.  The  palm-thatched  roof  projected  like  that  of  a  Swiss 
chalet,  over  balconies  where  hammocks  were  hung  for  the  siesta;  at 
night  they  were  carried  into  the  interior,  and  the  door,  —  there  was 
no  window,  —  was  closed  to  keep  out  the  mosquitos.  All  around 
them  was  the  forest,  so  dense  that  it  was  impossible  to  penetrate  it  to 
any  distance  except  by  the  path  made  b}'  the  rubber-collector,  who 
spends  his  da3's  wading  through  marshy  grounds  where  lurk  poison- 
ous water-snakes,  and  jungles  where  jaguars  prowl. 

The  gatherer,  as  he  goes  his  daily  rounds,  makes  a  number  of  fresh 
cuts  around  the  trunk  of  each  tree,  sets  his  cups,  and  passes  on. 
Later  in  the  day  he  makes  the  same  rounds,  with  a  queer  pail  manu- 
factured from  a  calabash,  with  a  braided  cover  and  handle,  into  which 
he  empties  the  sap  collected  in  the  little  cups,  which  in  turn  lie  pours 
into  the  shell  of  a  great  iortitniga  or  turtle.  The  Protessor  explained 
the  process  after  this.  Delight  noticed  a  tall  earthen  jar  which  she 
examined  curiously,  for  she  could  not  imagine  for  what  use  it  was 
intended.      '^  What  do  you  think  it  is?''  asked  the  Professor. 

^^  It  looks  like  a  lamp  chimney,"  Delight  replied,  "  though  it  is 
much  too  large." 

'Mt  is  a  chimney,  however,"  replied  the  Professor,  ^' a  lire  of  palm 
nuts  is  made  beneath  it,  and  the  rubber  is  prepared  by  dipping  the 
blade  of  this  long  wooden  paddle  into  the  rubber  sap,  and  then  coag- 
ulating the  fluids  by  holding  the  paddle  in  the  dense  white  smoke, 
which  pours  from  the  top  of  the  chimney." 

The    seringuerio     obligingly    went    through    the    operation.      The 


A    PALMER'S  PILGRIMAGE.  6 1 

smoke  hardened  the  sap  into  a  leather}'  substanec,  and  at  the  same 
time  changed  it  to  a  yellow  color.  As  fast  as  it  hardened,  the  man 
poured  on  more  sap,  until  quite  a  mass  of  rubber  had  collected  on 
the  paddle,  when  he  sliced  oil'  the  cake  of  rubber  with  a  knife.  Each 
of  the  girls  made  a  cake  of  her  own,  and  speculated  as  to  the  use  to 
which  it  might  tinally  be  put.  *"  I  have  no  doubt,''  said  Victoria, 
*^that  mine  will  go  to  Europe;  will  be  vulcanized  and  manipulated  in 
various  ways,  and  tinally  made  up  into  a  set  of  rubber  jewelry.'' 

"I  should  prefer  that  mine  should  be  put  to  some  useful  purpose," 
said  Delight,  "  spread  thin  over  a  gossamer  water-proof;  or  made 
into  a  rubber  doll  for  some  baby  girl." 

"I  will  take  mine  in  its  crude  state,"  said  Maud,  "and  use  it  just  as 
it  is  in  the  service  of  Art  for  erasing  faulty  pencil  marks." 

'^  I  remember,"  said  Delight,  "  seeing  a  rubber-tree  in  a  green-house, 
when  I  was  a  small  child,  and  that  the  gardener,  a  whimsical  man, 
told  me  that  its  h'uit  was  cut  into  over-shoes,  and  that  children's  sizes 
were  picked  before  they  had  ripened." 

"That  is  no  more  absurd  than  some  of  the  notions  ignorant  people 
tbrm,"  said  the  Doctor.  "  In  the  earl}'  part  of  this  century  there  was 
a  great  furore  in  England  for  exporting  all  kinds  of  manufactures  to 
Brazil.  Some  enterprising  man  sent  a  cargo  of  warming-pans,  blank- 
ets, and  skates,  articles  for  which  one  would  think  little  demand 
could  be  found  in  the  tropics;  but  his  wares  found  a  good  market,  for 
the  planters  used  the  warming-pans  for  sugar  ladles;  the  blankets  as 
strainers  in  the  gold  regions;  and  the  skates  were  fiistened  to  boxes 
for  rockers  in  the  diamond  washing  districts." 

"  That  reminds  me,"  said  Mr.  Jenkins,  "  of  a  trader  on  the  Amazons, 
who  imported  a  quantity  of  playing  cards,  but  could  not  sell  them 
because  the  Indians  were  not  educated  up  to  California  Jack.  But 
the  man  was  not  to  be  outwitted;  he  gave  each  of  the  face  cards  a 
ditferent  name,  and  sold  them  for  fifty  cents  a  piece,  as  portraits  of 
the  Saints.     Fancy  the  King  of  Hearts  as  St.  Francis  Xavier!  " 


62 


THREE   VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


"  It  would  do  better  as  a  representation  of  Joseph  in  his  coat  of 
many  colors,'"  Maud  remarked  drily.  The  photographer  gave  her  a 
look  of  gratitude,  for  the  Doctor  evidently  a\  oided  him.  lie  now 
posed  his  camera  and  took  in  rapid  succession  several  tine  negatives 
of  the  forest,  with  its  broad-leaved  arums  growing  lush  and  rank  by 
the  water-side  against  a  dark  background  of  dense,  tangled  Negetation. 


wmw^-''^'y 


AFTER    A    LIZARD. 


"The  rubber-tree,"  exclaimed  the  Professor,  "is  a  giant  species  of 
milk-weed;**'  and  then  he  sprang  ankle  deep  into  the  swamp  after  a 
rare  lizard  that  was  basking  on  the  trunk  of  a  tree, 

""This  is  an  excellent  place  to  begin  your  study  of  palms,"  said  the 
doctor  to  Victoria.  "There  are  ti\e  varieties  beside  that  spring;  can 
3'ou  tell  me  their  names?'' 

Maud  was  working  rapidly,  her  sketch. box  open  on  her  lap;  while 
Delight  brushed  away  the   mosquitos  which  were  singing  in  the  dusk. 


MANUFACTURE   OF    KUniJEU. 


A    rALMER'S   ril.CRIMAGE. 


65 


"  I  understand  now,"  she  said  to  Maud,  "  why  tlic  liousc  has  no 
windows.  He  closes  the  door  at  night,  and  kindles  a  little  smoky  fire 
inside,  to  keep  out  those  horrible  insects.  Mother  was  quite  right 
not  to  come.  Do  you  remember  how  Jules  Verne  classities  the 
ditierent  species;  ^  the  gray,  the  hairy,  the  white-clawed,  the  dwarf, 
the  trumpeter,  the  little  iifer,  the  harlequin,  the  big  black,  and  the  red 
ol'  the  woods  ?  '  " 

"I  am  not  a  microscopist,''  Maud  replied,  "  but  I  think  I  ccnild 
make  a  better  classification  than  that.  In  my  limited  experience  I 
have  already  observed  at  least  eighteen  varieties;  viz:  the  giant,  the 
nightmare,  the  always  voracious,  the  ogre,  the  contralto,  the  soprano, 
the  alto,  the  tenor,  the  basso,  the 
chorus,  the  violoncello,  the  first 
violin,  the  trombone,  the  harp,  the 
cornet,   the    flute,   the    zithern,    the  ^lYh 

triangle,     and     indeed     the  H^-^^^^^  - 

whole    orchestra,    with     all         4/^^^^^?^-^'"^)^ 


MAUD'S    SKETCH    IN    THE    RUBBER 
SWAMP. 


the  names  ever  given  to  all 
the  hobg-oblins." 

^' There  is  a  difference  in  their 
notes,"  Delight  assented  musingly, 
"some  are  thin  and  high,  and  others 
full  and  rich.  We  have  had  educated  fleas  on  exhibition  in  New 
York.  I  wonder  how  it  would  do  to  give  mosquito  symphonv  con- 
certs." 

"Our  time  is  half  up,"  announced  the  Doctor,  "  we  must  paddle 
awa}',  if  we  are  to  secure  any  of  that  gaudy  painted  pottery  for  which 
Breves  is  noted." 

The  Professor's  canoe  led  the  way  through  the  yg'dpo,  or  forest 
swamp,  past  cane  brakes,  over  which  rosy  spoon-bills  fluttered,  and 
where  alligators  slipped  now  and  then  with  a  heavy  thud  into  the 
water,  through  a  labyrinth  of  small   lakes  and  channels  called   igct- 


66 


THREE    VASSAR    GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


rapes  or  canoe  paths,  along  which  great,  blue  butterflies,  whose  wings 
have  a  wonderliil  metallic  lustre,  skim  lazil}',  and  the  mangroves 
stoop  to  the  clear  water.  The  Doctor,  the  Professor,  and  Victoria, 
are  out  of  hearing,  when  Mr.  Jenkins  startles  the  two  girls  with  liim 
by  a  strange  question : 

"  Miss  Van  Vechten,  did  I  understand  you  to  say  that  you  were 
acquainted  with  the  family  of  the  Senhor  Silva,  who  was  our  com- 
panion on  the  steamer.-'" 

^'  I  knew  his  mother,  brother,  and  sister,  in  Lisbon.  Will  you  tell 
me  why  you  ask }  " 


MR.   JENKINS    TAKES    THE   GIRLS    INTO  CONFIDENCE. 


"  Yes,  if  you  two  young  ladies  can  keej^  it  to  yourselves.  I  am  a 
detective,  sent  out  from  New  York  by  Gold,  Glitter  &  Co.,  to  trace 
the  confidential  clerk  who  levanted  with  so  much  of  their  cash. 
From  information  which  I  received  at  Para,  and  from  my  own  ])er- 
sonal  observation  on  board  the  steamer,  I  am  positive  that  the  rascal 
is  one  of  two  men." 

Maud  and  Delight  looked  at  each  other  in  suspense. 

"Either  he  is  Senhor  Silva,  or  else  he  is  this  precious  doctor  that 
the  Professor  has  taken  such  a  fancy  to." 

"O  no!"  exclaimed  Delight;  "my  father  could  not  be  so  deceived!" 

"  He  is  a  perfect  gentleman,"  said  Maud,  musingly. 


A    PALMER'S  PILGRIMAGE. 


67 


"So  was  tliis  Bartlett;  and  I've  noticed  that  although  the  Doctor  can 
be  polite  enough  to  you  young  ladies,  he  don't  put  on  an}-  dancing  airs 
with  me;  and  he's  quite  particular  about  not  sitting  lor  his  picture. 
However,  I've  sent  back  two  ver}-  good  ones  to  the  ihm,  and  when 
we  return  to  Para. I  expect  to  hear  whether  he  is  the  man.  Mean- 
time, you  must  excuse  mc  if  I  stick  rather  close  to  your  party;  lor  it 
won't  do  for  me  to  lose  sight  of  the  Doctor  as  I  have  of  the  Senhor. 
He  is  an  artful  dodger,  he  is,  and  he  gave  me  the  slip  in  l\ira.'' 

"We  expected  to  have  his  company  up  the  ri\er,"  said  Delight. 
She  WMS  going  to  add,  "and  we  shall  probably  come  across  him 
before  the  journey  is  over,"  but  she  hesitated  about  giving  Mr.  Jen- 
kins any  more  clews. 

"I  don't  see  v/hy  you  should  care  to  follow  the  Senhor,''  said  Maud. 
"He  was  born  in  Lisbon,  and  I  assure  3'ou  that  his  family  are  highly 
respectable.  Do  you  know  anything  of  this  Mr.  Bartlett's  antece- 
dents.?" 

"Oh!  yes,  I  have  his  whole  memoir;  he  was  born  of  poor  but 
honest  parents,  down  in  Rhode  Island;  he  was  especially  bright  at 
figures  from  his  earliest  childhood;  likewise  languages;  he  learned 
Portuguese  when  he  wms  apprenticed  to  a  Portuguese  Jew  tallow- 
chandler,  at  Padan  Aram." 

"  So  you  see  it  could  not  have  been  the  Senhor,"  Delight  interrupted, 
confidently. 

"The  Senhor  speaks  English  remarkably  well,"  insinuated  Mr. 
Jenkins. 

"But  your  description  is  all  at  fault,"  said  Delight.  "Mr.  Bartlett  is 
said  to  have  been  a  blond,  while  Senhor  Silva  has  a  remarkabl}'  dark 
complexion  and  black  hair." 

Mr.  Jenkins  replied  by  a  significant  pantomime,  washing  his  face 
and  hands  carefully  in  an  imaginary  fiuid,  and  remarking,  scnten- 
tiousl}',  "  Hair  dye." 

"If  the   Senhor  is  only  Mr.  Bartlett  disguised,"  Maud    remarked, 


68  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

^*"  how  could  he  know  about  my  Lisbon  friends,  and  describe  them  so 
accurately?" 

"That's  what  gets  me,"  replied  Mr.  Jenkins, 'Mts  the  one  extenuat- 
ing circumstance  in  his  favor,  you  are  his  best  witness;  it's  a  pitv  that 
there  is  n't  some  one  to  prove  an  alibi  for  the  Doctor  too.  Do  you 
know  where  he  was  born  and  bred?" 

"  In  New  Haven,"  said  Delight  promptly.     "  He  told  me  so." 

'^  He  ought  to  have  put  it  further  oti,"  said  Mr.  Jenkins. 

"  But  he  is  familiar  with  the  vicinity  of  Padan  Aram,"  exclaimed 
Maud.  ^' I  spent  a  summer  there,  sketching,  and  he  knew  all  about 
Nonquitt  and  New  Bedford." 

"That's  where  he  wasn't  smart;  nothing  like  a  woman  for  the 
detective  business." 

*"  But  then  again  he  does  not  understand  Portuguese  very  well,  only 
a  little  from  having  been  in  Brazil  once  before." 

"That  's  where  he  was  a  little  too  smart,  he  speaks  it  well." 

"All  this  circumstantial  evidence  is  mere  nonsense,"  Maud  an- 
nounced with  authority,  "anyone  can  see  that  Doctor  Stillman  is  as 
true  and  honorable  as  he  is  gentle  and  kind.  I  consider  your  suspi- 
cions insulting  in  the  extreme." 

"All  the  same.  Miss  Van  Vechten;  I  shall  watch  him  pretty  close 
till  I  get  him  back  to  Para  and  receive  my  orders  from  headquarters." 

"There  is  no  need  of  resenting  Mr.  Jenkins' suspicions,"  Delight 
remarked  quietly;  "it  is  his  business  to  suspect,  and  that  he  is  fol- 
lowincf  a  false  scent  can  do  the  Doctor  no  harm.  I  will  guarantee 
that  he  will  not  attempt  to  elude  or  escape  you,  but  that  you  will  hnd 
his  entire  career  perfectl}-  open  and  straightforward." 

"Where  are  the  others?''  Maud  asked;  "we  have  been  so  much 
absorbed  in  listening  to  Mr.  Jenkins  that  we  have  not  noticed  where 
the  canoeman  has  been  taking  us." 

Maud,  after  a  vigorous  conversation  with  the  Indian,  elicited  the 
information  that  he  had  been  engaged  by  the  hour,  and  had  paddled 


A    PALMERS   Pin:  RIM  AGE.  69 

aimlessly  on,  expecting  to  be  told  when  to  return.  Mr.  Jenkins  con- 
sulted his  watch. 

"We  must  row  at  once  for  the  steamer;  the  others  are  doubtless 
there,  and  wondering  what  has  become  of  us." 

"What  if  they  have  started  without  us,"  Maud  exclaimed. 

"Father  would  never  allow  them  to  do  that,"' Delight  replied. 
When  they  reached  the  open  ri\er  they  found  the  steamer  still  there, 
but  met  the  Professor  waiting  anxiously  for  them  on  the  shore. 

"  I  did  not  know  but  I  should  have  to  land  the  party,"  he  exclaimed, 
"and  wait  in  Breves  for  the  next  boat.     Were  you  lost.'*" 

Victoria  met  them  as  they  came  on  deck,  displaying  her  purchases 
in  the  way  of  red  and  yellow  pottery,  chickens  with  green  and  blue 
crests  and  impossible  tail-feathers.  The  Professor  had  some  remark- 
able finds,  too,  in  fossils  and  in  antique  pottery,  a  vulture,  and  a  non- 
descript idol. 

Mr.  Jenkins  looked  about  in  an  uneasy  way.  "Where  is  the  Doc- 
tor? '"  he  asked. 

"We  were  so  sorry!"  Victoria  replied;  "but  the  woman  who 
made  the  potter}-  was  very  sick,  and  the  Doctor  thought  he  could 
cure  her,  so  he  had  his  medicine-chest  carried  from  the  boat  and 
stayed." 

Utter  silence  followed  Victoria's  news.  The  steamer  was  making 
good  time  now  up  the  broad  river.  Mr.  Jenkins  gave  the  girls  an 
expressive  look  and  strode  away  to  the  captain,  asking  if  he  could  be 
put  ashore.  "No,  indeed,"  replied  the  indignant  functionary;  "we 
wasted  time  enough  waiting  for  you  at  Breves.  We  can't  stop  again 
just  as  we've  got  up  steam;  but  I'll  put  you  oti' to-morrow,  if  you 
wish  it,  with  the  greatest  of  pleasure." 


70 


THREE    ^'ASS.IR   CJ/A'LS   IN  SOC/TII  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  V. 


NEAR    TO    NATURE  S    HEART, 


ALTHOUGH  Delight  had 

dclcndcd    the     Doctor    so 
warmly    she    was    by    no 
means  so  confident  as  she 
had  seemed.     She  had  a 
judicial   mind,  accustom- 
ed to  weigh  evidence,  and 
not    easily   carried    away 
by    her     feelings.      That 
Dr.  Stillman  had  steadily 
won    their    good    opinion 
was     not     a     convincing 
proof   that   he   was    inno- 
cent, and    her   kind   heart 
was  greatlv  troubled.    She 
lay  awake  the  greater  part 
\    ol"    the     night,    pondering 
-:v    the  situation.     Something 
V   seemed  to  trouble  Victo- 
%  ria,    too,    for    she     tossed 
about  uneasily  in  her  ham- 
mock, which  happened  to  be  hung  quite  near  Delight's. 

"Vic,"  whispered  the  latter,  after  a  time,  "  are  you  asleep?  " 
"You  know  I  am  not,"  Victoria  replied  pettishly;  "you  must  have 
heard  me  jrrumblinof  and  tumbling:." 


NEAR    TO   NATURE'S  HEART. 


71 


"Yes;  but  I  did  n't  know  but  perhaps  the  ijiazil  nuts  you  ate  for 
dessert  might  possibly  have  disagreed  with  you." 

"Nonsense;  m}-  digestion  is  all  riglit,  but  ni\'  self-respeet  is  out  ol" 
order.  Come  here,  and  sit  on  the  side  ol"  my  hammock,  and  I  will 
tell  you  all  about  it." 

Delight  crept  across  in  the  moonlight,  and  Victoria  began  her  con- 
fession. 

"Do  you  know,  Delight  dear,  that  1  believe  that  f' 

sick  Indian  was  only  an  excuse  for  Dr.  Stillman  to 
leave  our  party? " 

Delight  started.     "  I  know  it,"  she  replied  ;  "  but 
what    makes    you    think 


so?" 

"  Well,  you  know  your 
dear  papa  is  quite  deaf, 
and  he  was  so  much 
interested  in  everything 
about  us,  that  the  Doctor 
and  I  were  as  good  as 
alone  all  day  ;  and  De- 
light, dear,  I  was  dread- 
fully rude  to  him;  and  I 
am  quite  ashamed  of  m}'- 
self,  for  I  don't  see  how  I 

could  have  been  so  unladylike.  This  was  how  it  hapj-)ened.  Every- 
thing was  so  lovely  and  strange  in  that  canoe-ride  that  I  grew  quite 
enthusiastic,  and  I  remember  that  I  said  it  would  be  delightful  to 
glide  on  so  forever,  near  to  Nature's  heart,  and  away  irom  all  the 
artiticiality  of  our  modern  societ}'.  And  Dr.  Stillman  agreed  that 
it  would,  provided  that  one  were  not  quite  alone,  but  for  two  people 
who  loved  each  other  to  begin  life  so  would  be  like  the  creation  of  a 
new  heaven  and  a  new  earth.     I  was  not  sure  whether  he  was  making 


IN    COM  lOKXCE. 


*j2  THREE    VAS:SAK   i'.IRLS   IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

sport  ol  mc  or  whether  he  was  really  ^jjrowiiiL;  sentinieiiLal,  and  as  I 
did  not  approNc  of  either  attitude,  1  was  vexed  enough;  and-I  asked 
him  what,  in  tliat  case,  would  become  of"  liis  tine  theories  of  living 
tor  the  benetit  of  the  human  race.  Then  he  acknowledged  that  1 
was  right;  that  life  in  such  a  paradise  would  be  selfish  in  the  extreme, 
and  not  to  be  wished  for  b}'  any  one  until  he  had  won  his  palm. 
And  after  tiiat  he  read  me  another  of  his  moral  lectures  about'  the  joy 
ot"  li\  ing  tor  others,  and  of  loving  people  we  don't  like,  which  I  told 
him  seemed  to  me  an  evident  paradox.  And  he  even  proceeded  to 
make  a  personal  application  of  his  remarks,  and  to  beg  me  to  choose 
the  career  for  which  I  thought  God  had  particularly  fitted  me,  and  in 
which  I  could  do  the  most  good  in  the  world.  Oh!  I  was  angry.  I 
told  him  that  w^e  were  not  all  intended  to  be  cart-horses,  and  hold  our 
noses  to  the  grindstone.  By-the-by,  it  strikes  me  now^  that  was  rather 
a  mixed  metaphor,  for  I  never  saw  a  cart-horse  do  such  a  thing,  but  I 
don't  beliijve  he  noticed  it,  for  he  did  not  smile,  but  grew  quite  gray- 
about  the  lips,  and  replied  that  it  was  only  his  extreme  mterest  in  me 
which  prompted  him  to  take  such  a  liberty.  Then  I  informed  him 
that  it  was  indeed  a  libert}',  and  that  he  had  no  business  to  be  inter- 
ested in  me,  and  that  as  I  intended  to  finish  my  education  at  Vassar, 
I  had  no  need  of  a  tutor." 

"O  Vic,  how  could  you  have  been  so  rude?" 

"  Outrageous,  was  n't  it?  " 

"Yes.     I  don't  believe  you  really  were  as  bad  as  that." 

"Oh  yes,  I  was;  and  he  begged  my  pardon  humbly  enough,  but  he 
was  every  bit  as  angry  as  I.  The  spectacles  came  oti",  and  his  big 
eyes  flashed,  and  he  said  I  should  not  be  troubled  by  any  interference 
in  future.  At  that  moment  I  believe  he  would  ha\  e  liked  to  have 
rolled  me  in  the  mud.  as  William  the  Conqueror  did  Matilda,  when 
she  scorned  him." 

""  I  believe  that,  like  Matilda,  you  would  have  respected  him  more 
if  he  had  done  so.      What  happened  next  ?  " 


A'EAK    -JO    NATCA'/rS   HEART. 


73 


""Nothing  ill  paiticular.  AVc  IodUccI  at  the  poUciy,  and  I  told  llic 
Professor  tliat  Professor  Orton  brought  back  a  (luantity  of  it,  and  it 
was  in  the  Museum  at  Vassar.  'I'hen,  naturally,  we  talked  about 
Professor  Orton  and  the  beautil'ul  collection  of  vSouth  American  birds 
and  other  curiosities  whieii  he  gathered  with  so  much  pains  in  his 
trip  across  this  continent,  and  which  X^issar  now  owns.  1  lamented 
that  the  poor  man  should  ha\  e  died  just  at  the  beginning  ol"  his  ca- 
reei-  and  Dr.  Stillman  replied  that  he  en\ied  him,  for  he  had  done  a 
defniite  work  for  science  and  would  be  remembered  as  a  man  who 
had  accomplished  something.  Your  father  said  that  Vassai-  might  be 
ver}-  proud  of  Professor  Orton's  memory,  and  then  a  messenger  came 
and  desired  the  Doctor  to  call  on  this  sick  person;  and  while  we 
waited  outside  in  the  shade  of  the  mangoes  I  cooled  down  a  little, 
and  realized  that  I  had  been  hasty,  and  had  possibh'  ofiended  him, 
an(J,  determined  that  on  our  way  back  to  the  ship  1  would  satisfy  mv 
self-respect  by  a  not  too  abject  apology.  But  when  he  came  out  lie 
announced  that  he  would  not  be  able  to  accompany  us.  —  this  poor 
creature  needed  his  attention.  I  was  so  surprised  that  1  could  not 
say  anything.  Your  father  hoped  that  he  would  tind  us  at  Santarem, 
where  we  intend  to  make  our  longest  stop,  and  he  promised  that  in 
case  we  left  the  town  before  his  arrival  we  would  lea\  e  a  letter  for 
him  informmg  him  of  our  next  moxements.  '  It  I  am  too  busv  to 
do  it  myself,  Miss  Victoria  here  will  be  my  amanuensis,"  your 
father  said,  and  I  could  feel  that  the  Doctor  looked  straight  at 
me,  though  I  would  not  meet  his  gaze.  'Very  well,"  he  said,  'if 
Miss  Victoria  will  write  me  ot'  your  plans,  I  will  try  to  join  you,' 
and  then  he  went  back  into  the  house,  and  we  came  away." 

"I  don't  see,  then,  what  you  have  to  worry  about;  \-ou  will  have 
}'our  opportunity  to  apologize,  after  all." 

"Yes;  but  a  written  apology  is  so  much  more  compromising  than 
a  spoken  one.  I  could  have  made  some  casual  remark  which  would 
not   have    signified    much,    and    yet    would    have   placed   us   on  good 


74 


7HRKE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH   AMERICA. 


terms,  and  now  I  must  cat  humblc-pic  or  complicate  the  matter  still 
more.  Besides,  if  I  write  at  nil,  it  is  the  same  as  acknowledging 
that  I  want  him  to  travel  with  us,  and  he  was  dangcrousl}'  near  being 
sentimental,  and  it  might  be  encouraging  him.'' 

'^  Then,"  said  Delight  checrfull}',  "  cverNthing  seems  to  be  for  the 
best,  just  as  it  is." 

^' You  are  such  a  perverse  little  optimist.  I  really  believe  if  you 
were  cast  into  the  (S.<i\\  of  lions  with  Daniel,  you  would  say,  '  What 
an  uncommonly  good  chance  to  study  Zoology! '  Can't  you  see  that 
evervthing  is  for  the  worst, —  that  if  I  do  not  apologize  I  stamp  my- 
self as  wantino-  in  every  instinct  of  irood  breeding'."" 

"Vic,  dear," — Delight  spoke  a  little  lower,  and  drew  her  arm 
closer  about  her  friend,"!  was  thinking  of  something  else  when  I 
said  that  evervthing  was  probably  for  the  best.  While  you  were 
talking  with  the  Doctor,  >Mr.  Jenkins  made  a  rather  startling  com- 
munication to  us  girls.  He  thinks  that  the  Doctor  is  that  defaulting 
cashier  in  disguise." 

Victoria  grasped  her  friend's  hand  tightl}',  —  "The  idiot!  " 

"  Why,  Vic,  you  were  the  first  to  suggest  the  idea." 

"Yes;  but  that  was  before  I  really  became  acquainted  with  Dr. 
Stillman.      Does  he  impress  you  as  a  scoundrel?" 

"No,  dear.  1  can  hardly  imagine  that  anyone  could  be  enough 
of  a  iiypocrite  to  wear  such  a  face  as  Dr.  Stillman's  over  a  black 
heart;  but  I  should  hesitate  to  trust  my  own  impressions  in  a  case 
like  this." 

"You  are  too  stlf-distrustful  and  cautious.  People  who  weigh 
both  sides  so  evenly  end  by  never  having  any  opinion  of  their  own. 
Now  I  always  trust  to  m\'  intuitions." 

"And  you  are  sonrctimes  mistaken." 

"Better  to  be  honestly  mistaken  than  to  be  forever  on  the  fence, 
hesitating,  doubting,  balancing." 

"Well,  Vic,  even  supposing  Dr.  Stillman  to  be  perfectly  innocent, 


NEAR    TO   NATURE'S  HEART. 


75 


it  seems  to  me  that  it  is  fortunate  that  he  is  not  subjected  to  the  espi- 
onai^e  and  doo^o:in"^  of  this  detective." 

"I  do  not  agree  with  you.  It  seems  to  me  that  liis  lea\ing  us  at 
this  juncture  will  be  regarded  by  this  narrow-minded  creature  as  a 
suspicious  circumstance,  while,  if  he  had  staged,  even  Mr.  Jenkins 
would  have  seen  that  he  was  entirely  on  the  wrong  track." 

"  Vic,     dear,     don't     worry  ■   , 

about  it;   everything  will  come 
straight,  I  am  sure." 

"  And  this  letter,  which  I  am 
to  write  the  Doctor  at  Santa- 
rem  ?  " 

"  Never  cross  a  bridge  till 
you  come  to  it.  You  will 
know  just  what  to  do  when  the 
time  comes." 

Lite   on  the  steamer  passed 
tranquilly  and  pleasantly.    The 
girls  began  to  understand  whv 
it  was  proper  to  speak  of  this    ^P 
intricate    network    of    braided     'W^K~-=?3 


watercourses  as  the  Amazo;/5, 
and  not  as  one  river.  The 
steamer,    to     avoid     the     swift 

current,  hugged  the  shore,  giving  them  a  tine  view  ot  the  rank  vege- 
tation, the  lowlands  covered  with  thousands  of  cattle,  and  the  woods 
matted  together  with  looping  lianas  and  parasitic  plants. 

]\Ir.  Jenkins  left  the  steamer  at  its  next  stopping-place,  Monte 
Alegre,  or  the  Joyous  Mountain.  At  their  last  view  of  him  he  was 
playing  cards  with  a  priest,  but  his  sneak-box  was  on  his  knees,  and 
one  wary  eye  kept  watch  on  the  steamboat  landing.  lie  announced 
his    intention    of  remaining:  here   until    the   arrival   of    the  next  boat 


IKNKINS'   OPPONENT    AT   CARDS. 


76  THRICK    1\IS:SAR   G/RLS   A\"  SOUTH   AMERICA. 

bound  down  the  river,  when  he  would  return  to  Breves.  Near  Monte 
Alegre  they  visited  a  cacao  orchard,  and  saw  tlie  process  ol"  dryin*^ 
the  fruit  from  wliicli  chocohite  is  made.  It  grows  in  oblong  shells 
citrht  or  ten  inches  in  len<rth.  The  outer  casing  is  broken  with  ham- 
mers,  and  the  clusters  of  seeds  inside  —  each  seed  the  size  of  an  Italian 
chestnut  —  are  separated  and  dried  in  the  sun.  The  girls  were  helped 
to  delicious  chocolate,  made  from  the  roasted  and  powdered  kernels. 
The  beveraije  was  beaten  with  a  twirlinfr  stick  until  liirht  and  frothy, 
and  Maud  declared  that  even  at  Maillard's  she  had  never  tasted  a 
more  appetizing  preparation  of  chocolate. 

Here,  too,  they  witnessed  the  manufacture  of  farinha,  which  serves 
the  natives  in  the  place  of  bread.  The}-  had  been  served  with  it  on  the 
steamer,  a  dish  of  it  being  placed  before  each  passenger.  The  girls 
had  provoked  the  merriment  of  the  natives  by  helping  themselves  to 
the  mass,  which  resembled  toasted  crumbs,  by  means  of  a  spoon. 
The  Brazilians,  with  a  dexterity  of  touch  truly  surprising,  would  take 
a  pinch  of  the  crumbs  in  their  fingers  and  throw  it  into  their  mouths 
with  great  accuracy  of  aim,  while  the  hand  was  at  quite  a  distance. 
They  now  saw  the  farinha  made  from  the  manioc  root,  which  is  first 
soaked  in  pools  of  water,  then  scraped  and  grated,  passed  through  a 
sieve,  alter  having  had  the  poisonous  juice  expressed  from  it,  and 
roasted  on  large  ovens  of  stone  or  copper.  Tapioca  is  a  preparation 
of  the  juice. 

They  climbed  together  the  Serra  of  Erere,  a  mountain  at  the  back 
of  the  town  of  ]Nronte  Alegre,  from  which  a  wide-spreading  view  was 
obtained  ot  the  surrounding  country,  and  visited  the  Indian  village  of 
the  same  name,  noted  for  its  hammock-weaving,  where  the}'  lingered 
for  several  days.  These  hammocks  arc  made  by  the  Indian  women, 
not  of  grasses,  like  the  ones  sent  to  us,  but  of  cotton,  the  main  part 
closely  woven  in  the  shape  of  a  square,  six  feet  across.  Sometimes, 
by  the  use  of  a  dyed  thread,  a  simple,  decorative  pattern  was  intro- 
duced.    The  cotton  the  women   used  was  of  their  own  raisinij  and 


OLD   CRONE   SPINNING. 


NEAR   TO  NATURE'S  HEART. 


79 


preparation.  The  girls  were  struck  by  the  odd  sounds  issuing-  iVoni 
the  iiouses,  as  of  cliildren  beating  upon  drums,  but  ascertained,  on 
visiting  the  dwellings,  that  these  sounds  were  caused  b\'  tiie  light 
palm  wands  deftly  handled  b\-  the  Indian  girls  as  tliey  beat  the  cotton 
to  fleecy  lightness. 

Maud  made  a  sketch  of  an  old  crone  spinning  at  a  clumsy,  aborigi- 
nal wheel.  She  was  busy  ever3'where  during  their  brief  stay,  and  all 
were  interested  in  this  primitive,  wild  life.  The  Indians  were  gentle 
and  hospitable,  not  at  all  reminding  them  of  the  female  warriors  Irom 
whom  the  mighty  river  was  named. 

Delight  whispered  slyl}^  to  Victoria,  as  they  marked  the  simplicity 
and  poverty  of  the  household  furnishing,  "This  is  certainly  living 
^  near  to  Nature's  heart,'  but  does  it  strike  you,  dear,  that  }ou  wcnild 
greatly  enjoy  it?  " 

No,  Victoria  hardlv  thought  she  would:  but  INIaud,  with  an  artist's 
instinct,  seemed  to  get  at  the  spirit  of  it  all.  She  made  friends  with 
the  little  naked  Indian  children,  whom  she  painted  as  they  disported 
themselves  at  their  morning  bath  by  the  side  of  the  beautiliil  palm- 
shaded  spring.  Her  knowledge  of  Portuguese  made  it  possible  for 
her  to  converse  w^ith  those  of  the  older  women  who  understood  the 
language.  She  was  a  close  observer,  and  none  of  the  others  noticed, 
as  she  did,  that  the  Indian  children  loved  the  water,  while  the  negro 
babies  cried  when  they  were  bathed;  the  little  darkies  slept  in  the 
full  glare  of  the  sunlight,  and  the  Indians  carefully  selected  the 
shade. 

The  Indians  were  religious  as  well  as  kindh'.  The\-  had  taken 
easily  to  the  religion  of  the  Jesuits,  but  some  of  their  barbaric  sujier- 
stitions  still  remained.  One  night  there  occurred  an  eclipse  of  the 
moon.  No  daily  journal  had  warned  the  public  of  the  event,  and  the 
girls  were  too  far  from  the  Vassar  obser\atorv  to  receive  special  noti- 
fication from  Miss  Mitchell.  The  shadow  had  advanced  some  wa}' 
upon  the  moon  before  their  attention  was  drawn  to  it.     The  villagers, 


8o  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  I\  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

more  prompt    in   makini,^  the   diseoxer}-,  began  to  thump  with  their 
pestles   in   tlie  large   larinha  mortars,  and  to  send  oti'  rockets,  and  tire 

guns. 

'^  What  is  the  meaning  of  all  this  racket?"  Maud  inquired.     "  Have 


INDIAN    n)KA    OF    AN    ECIJPSE. 


we  chanced  upon  the  Brazilian   Fourth   of  July,  or  is  this  the  fete  of 
some  more  than  usually  illustrious  saint?" 

The  Professor  explained  that  the  Indians  were  exorcising  an  evil 
spirit  who  had  stolen  the  moon's  food.  "  The  Indians  believe,"  said 
he,  '^that  every  few  weeks  a  young  moon  is  born;  its  growth  is  con- 
stant and  rapid,  and  finally  it  reaches  its  full,  obese  middle  age;  then, 


NEAR    TO  NATURE'S  HEART.  8 1 

like  man,  It  grows  no  longer,  but  beeomes  daily  tliinncr  until  it  fades 
nwa}'  and  dies,  and  its  place  is  supplied  by  its  otlspring.  Now  when 
an  eclipse  occurs  they  attribute  the  diminished  lorm  to  the  depriva- 
tion of  the  daily  allowance  of  farinha,  which  some  trick}-  spirit  has 
stolen  away.  Then,  to  encourage  the  dying  moon,  and  to  comj')e-l  the 
evil  spirit  to  restore  the  food,  two  operations  are  necessar\  :  fnsl,  the 
beating  of  farinha  in  the  great  family  mortar,  and  second,  the  shooting 
of  rockets  and  firearms  to  scare  the  liend  who  is  causing  the  mischief. 
This  belief  is  confirmed  by  the  moon's  recovery  following  their 
exertions. 

"That  is  all  ver}'  interesting  to  me,"  Maud  remarked.  "I  remem- 
ber hearing  that  our  North  American  Indians  believe  that  during  an 
eclipse  a  dog  is  eating  the  moon,  and  they  fall  to  beating  every  un- 
lucky cur  that  can  be  found  in  their  camp  as  long  as  it  continues.  I 
wish  I  might  learn  more  of  their  superstitions,  and  I  am  sorry  that 
our  stay  in  Erere  is  to  be  so  short." 

"We  are  likely  to  live  among  other  tribes  some  time,"  replied  the 
Professor,  "  and  you  Avill  have  plenty  of  opportunity  to  indulge  N'our 
fancy." 

A  few  days  later  found  them  once  more  ploughing  the  yelhnv 
waters  of  the  Amazons,  bound  for  Santarem,  on  the  southern  shore, 
where  an  unlooked-for  meeting  awaited  them. 

As  they  steamed  rapidly  along  the  intricate  maze  of  watercourses, 
confiding  in  the  sagacity  of  the  native  pilot  to  decide  on  the  proper 
channel,  Victoria  happened  to  say  that  she  did  not  wonder  that  so 
many  of  the  early  explorers  lost  their  way,  and  foiled  in  their  attempts 
to  ascend  the  Amazons. 

This  started  the  Professor  ofi'  in  a  panegyric  of  these  same  voya- 
gers. 

"Ah!"  he  exclaimed,  "it  is  difficult  for  us  now  to  realize  their 
sufferings  as  thev  wandered  up  and  down,  struggling  against  wind 
and  current  for  weary  weeks  and  months,  searching  for  El  Dorado. 


§2  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

Few  romances  rival  tlicir  thrillini;-  experiences.  Have  you  ever  heard 
the  story  of  Madame  Odonais?  " 

''Never,"  Maud  repHed,  conscious  that  she  lowered  herself  in  the 
Professor's  esteem  by  this  confession  of  her  ignorance,  but  anxious  to 
be  enlightened. 

"In  1769  ?^Iadame  Godin  des  Odonais  descended  the  Amazons 
in  order  to  join  her  husband,  who  was  in  Cayenne,  and  had  sent  her 
word  of  a  Portuguese  boat  which  would  meet  her  at  Tabatinga  and 
convey  her  to  him.  She  set  out  from  Qiiito  \vith  her  two  brothers, 
a  French  physician,  her  nephew  —  a  lad  of  ten  years  of  age,  a  negro 
slave,  and  three  women  servants.  They  came  over  the  Andes  to  the 
Bobonnassa  River:  here  the  muleteers  who  had  broui^ht  them  over 
the  mountains  left  tliem  and  returned.  The  doctor  and  the  negro 
slave  went  on  to  an  Indian  village  for  boatmen  and  canoes,  while  the 
others  camped  beside  the  river  awaiting  their  return.  They  never 
came,  having  probabl}'  lost  their  wa}'  and  perished  in  the  wilderness. 
The  others,  after  waiting  for  twent3'-five  days,  concluded  to  build  a 
rail  and  venture  down  the  river.  This  raft  shortl}'  after  went  to 
pieces,  all  their  provisions  were  lost,  and  they  themselves  narrowly 
escaped  drowning.  In  this  desperate  condition  they  attempted  to 
Ibllow  down  the  banks  of  the  river  on  foot,  but  in  three  or  four  days 
all  died  of  starvation  with  the  exception  of  Madame  Odonais,  who 
wandered  on,  subsisting  on  fruit  and  some  partridge  eggs  which  she 
found.  So  she  strayed  for  eight  days,  when  she  came  across  two 
Indians  launching  a  canoe,  who  kindly  took  her  down  the  river  to 
Andoas,  from  which  place  she  obtained  conveyance  to  Tabatinga, 
where  she  Ibund  the  Portuguese  vessel  waiting,  and  was  carried  to 
her  husband." 

"What  a  terrible  experience!"  Victoria  mused;  "I  should  have 
gone  insane." 

"She  was  delirious  much  of  the  time,  and  her  husband  writes,  'The 
remembrance  of  the  terrible  spectacles,  the  horror  of  solitude,  and  the 


NEAR    TO  NATURE'S  HEART.  8? 

darkness  of  nioht  in   the  desert,  had  such  an  effect  on  her  mind  tliat 
lier  liair  turned  irrav.' " 

"But  all  this  terrible  privation  was  experienced  before  she  really 
reached  the  Amazons,"  Maud  said.  "  Pray,  tell  us  about  the  early 
explorers,  who  sailed  with  astonishment  up  its  broad  flood  —  four 
miles  across  from  bank  to  bank.  Joaquin  Miller  describes  it  rightly 
when  he  sa3's: 

" '  It  was  dark  and  dreadful  !    Wide  like  an  ocean, 
Much  like  a  river,  but  more  like  a  sea.' 

"It  is  really  the  Mediterranean  of  South  America." 

"It  is  one  of  my  theories,"  said  the  Professor,  "  a  theory  which  I 
hope  to  prove  on  this  expedition,  that  the  lower  vallev  of  the  Ama- 
zons, bed  and  entire  flood-plain,  was  once  an  arm  of  the  ocean  which 
the  river  sediment  has  gradually  built  up  above  the  level  of  the  sea, 
though  so  slightl}'  that  the  tides  are  felt  as  far  up  as  Obidos.  I  shall 
look  carefr.lly  for  marine  fossils  to  confirm  this  opinion." 

"This  was  not  Agassiz's  theory,"  Maud  remarked,  in  a  deprecatory 
wa}'. 

"True,"  the  Professor  replied;  "and  one  must  be  very  sure  in  his 
convictions  to  oppose  the  great  geologist.  Professor  Agassiz  sup- 
posed that  the  Amazonian  valley  is  a  gigantic  furrow  ploughed 
through  the  continent  b\'  a  glacier  descending  eastward  from  the 
Andes,  and  spreading  a  vast  moraine;  that  the  entire  region  was 
above  water  during  the  tertiar}'  period.  But  Professor  Orton  found 
tertiar}'  shells  at  Tabatinga." 

"The  glacier  idea  is  a  magnificent  one,"  said  Victoria,  enthusiasti- 
call}-,  "but  whether  the  vallc}'  is  a  trench  scooped  b}-  such  a  Titanic 
agency,  or  a  true  Mediterranean,  which  has  gradually  lifted  itself, 
changing  from  a  marine  to  an  earth  life,  it  gives  us  an  inspiring  notion 
of  the  growth  and  movement  in  the  nature  which  we  are  accustomed 
to  call  inanimate." 


84  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

"  Vou  will  tiiul  tlic  histor\-  of  the  exploration  of  tlie  river  equally 
iiitcrestin','',"  said  the  Professor.  ^' The  discoverers  called  it  a  fresh- 
water sea,  Santa  Maria  de  la  Mar  Dulce.  This  name  was  changed  to 
the  Amazons  b}-  Orellana,  one  of  Pizarro's  soldiers,  who  descended  the 
river  from  Peru  in  1540  and  1541,  and  told  marvellous  tales  of  the  female 
warriors  to  be  found  upon  its  banks.  To  the  Jesuits,  however,  is  due 
tlie  iireatest  honor,  lor  the}'  were  true  missionaries  in  those  early 
days,  and  civilization  lollowed  where  they  planted  the  cross.  Pedro 
Cristoval  de  Acuna  gives  the  first  record  of  their  work.  They  per- 
fected the  luio-iia  o'cral,  and  to  them  is  due  its  prevalence  instead  of 
a  multitude  of  Indian  dialects  along  the  entire  length  of  the  river. 
They  explored,  and  baptized,  and  taught,  and  practised  the  healing 
art,  many  of  our  valuable  medicines  ha\"ing  been  discovered  by  them. 
(^linine  was  first  known  as  Jesuit  powder.  They  fought  against  the 
barbarous  instincts  of  the  savages  on  one  side;  against  cannibalism 
and  vice  in  the  Indians;  and  against  the  rapacity  and  cruelty  of  the 
conquerors;  against  the  murder,  and  robbery,  and  slavery  practised 
by  the  wSpaniards  and  Portuguese.  They  were  heroes;  and,  Protestant 
that  I  am,  I  do  not  know  that  I  rejoice  in  their  expulsion  from  the 
land,  especially  as  no  better  S3'stem  of  religion  than  theirs  has  taken 
its  place." 

"You  are  really  eloquent,  father,"  Delight  said.  "Do  you  wish 
you  were  one  of  those  old  Jesuits?  " 

"No,  my  dear,"  he  replied  gravely.  "Science  has  its  mart3'rs  to- 
day, and  it  is  honor  enough  to  be  one  of  them.  How  many  men  of 
education  and  genius,  with  their  hearts  on  fire  with  a  love  of  nature, 
have  perijhed  nobly  here!  —  Orton,  in  the  lonely  Andes,  Ilartt,  at 
Rio,  with  others  of  European  origin;  and  many  besides,  who  brought 
back  with  them  the  seeds  of  death,  and  deemed  the  penalty  a  slight 
one  for  the  privilege  of  having  contributed  to  the  world's  advance- 
ment.    May  my  life  be  as  useful,  and  my  last  end  like  theirs." 

There  was  a  little  hush  about  him.     The  time  was  cominji  when 


NEAR    TO   NATURE'S  HEART. 


«7 


these  words  would  be  remembered  with  added  significance,  and  again 
Maud  noticed  how  very  frail  he  seemed.  Was  there  strength  enougli 
there  to  carry  him  through  any  unforeseen  privations  or  excitement 
which  might  await  them  on  this  trip?  All  of  a  sudden  the  journey 
struck  her  as  a  hazardous  experiment.  He  might  have  lived  ten  or 
fifteen  years  longer  in  happy  tranquillity;  why  had  he  taken  such  risks 
in  the  evening  of  his  life?  Then  she  realized  that  the  stories  he  had 
been  telling  them  were  of  past  centuries;  there  could  be  no  danger  in 
such  conimonplace  voyaging  as  this,  —  and  while  she  mused  there 
was  a  cry  of  interest  by  those  looking  forward,  and  Victoria  ex- 
claimed that  they  were  in  sight  of  Santarem. 


88 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER    VI. 


THE    FAZENDA    DA    SILVA. 


^^I^^ef^fe^^^g 


THEY  were  at  Santa- 
rem,  the  most  important 
city  in  the  interior  of 
.  Brazil,  and  to  reach  it 
the  steamer  had  made 
a  turn  out  of  the  turbid 
water  of  the  Amazons, 
two  miles  up  the  bhick 
Tapajos.  As  it  lay  \\\ 
tlie  deep  water,  wait- 
ing fpr  boatmen  to  take 
the  Professor  and  his 
party  ashore,  the  girls 
had  a  fine  panorama 
of  tlie  cidade  glis- 
tening white  in  the 
noonday  sun,  and  the 
palm-thatched  roofs  of 
the  humbler  cottages 
clustered  along  the 
shore.  Nejrresses  were 
laundering:  their  linen 
in  the  river,  their  ga}'  turbans  and  neckerchiefs  making  bright  spots 
of  color  in  the  centre  of  the  dazzling  white  of  the  heaped-up  washing. 
There  was   little  passing  in  tlie  streets,  for  the  steamer  had  arrived  at 


THE   FAZENDA    DA    SILVA.  89 

the  beginning  of  the  afternoon  siesta,  when  business  stagnates  and  all 
social  life  ceases.  Even  the  Indian  canoenien  were  coiled  up  in  the 
shade,  and  had  it  not  been  lor  the  sun-loving  African  element  the 
place  might  have  passed  for  the  court  of  the  Sleeping  Beauty.  A 
lusty  whistle  from  the  steamer  woke  a  slight  pretence  of  acti\itv 
among  the  wharf  loungers,  and  a  canoe  put  out  to  the  vessel. 

"There  is  no  hotel  in  the  place,"  the  Professor  remarked,  "nor 
anywhere  in  the  interior,  and  we  must  inquire  of  the  principal  store- 
keeper where  to  ask  the  hospitality  of  a  couple  of  rooms  in  ^vhich  to 
hang  our  hammocks." 

The  boatman  directed  them  to  the  shop  of  Senhor  Correa,  and  h.ere 
they  were  met  by  the  Senhor's  valet,  a  barefooted  but  polite  mulatto, 
who,  on  hearing  the  Professor's  name,  assured  them  that  they  were 
expected,  and  that  rooms  had  been  provided  for  them,  but  hoped 
they  would  excuse  his  master,  as  he  was  now  taking  his  siesta,  until 
dinner  at  four,  when  he  would  be  most  happy  to  meet  them. 

"What  does  it  mean?"  Mrs.  Holmes  asked.  "I  never  heard  of 
such  princely  hospitality.  Does  he  welcome  every  stranger  in  this 
cordial  fashion?" 

"It  is  evidently  a  mistake,"  the  Professor  replied.  "lie  is  expect- 
ing some  other  guests,  and  the  servant  fancies  that  we  are  the  ones.'* 

But  there  stood  the  valet  bowing,  .smiling,  beckoning  them  to 
follow,  and  declaring  that  his  masters  house  was  at"suas  ordens" 
and  at  the  end  of  the  store  there  was  a  tempting  vista  of  a  court- 
yard shaded  by 

"The  banana  with  leaf  like  a  tent." 

"It  is  a  fortunate  mistake  for  us;  let  us  profit  b}'  it,"  counselled 
Victoria.  "We  can  pay  the  Senhor  for  his  hospitalit}'  when  all  is  ex- 
plained," and  handing  her  bags  to  the  servant  she  followed  him  into 
the  court,  which  she  found  encircled  by  verandahs  which  led  to 
shady  sleeping-apartments.  The  others  acted  upon  Victoria's  ex- 
ample, greatly  wondering  and  amused.     The  mulatto  added  to  their 


9° 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


bewilderment  by  informing  them  that  "  their  iVicnd  "  had  sent  his 
pleasure-boat,  manned  by  negroes  and  commanded  by  his  steward, 
every  day  at  six  precisely  lor  a  week  past,  to  inquire  whether  they 
had  arrived,  and  to  convey  them  up  the  Tapajos  to  his  fazenda. 

"Who  can  this  guardian  spirit  be,  who  is  so  interested  in  our 
welfare?"  Maud  asked,  quite  wild  witli  curiosit}-.  But  the  valet 
could  not  remember- his  name,  and  there  seemed  to  be  nothing  to  do 
but  to  hang  their  hammocks  and  to  wait  future  developments. 
These  came  when,  refreshed  by  a  bath,  they  were  ushered  into  a 
pretty  dining  room  and  met  their  courteous  host.  He  explained  that 
Senhor  jose  Ignacio  da  Palacios  had  purchased  a  fazenda  several 
miles  up  the  Tapajos,  and  that  he  had  charged  Senhor  Correa  to 
entertain  them  until  he  could  bring  them  within  the  scope  of  his 
own  liospitality. 

Still  the  m3'stery  remained.  Who  was  this  Senhor  Palacios  who  had 
anticipated  their  wants  so  thoughtfully.'*  After  the  lingering  dinner 
the  Professor  looked  over  the  mail  which  he  had  ordered  sent  here, 
and  there  was  a  disappointed  look  on  Delight's  face  as  she  glanced 
over  her  father's  shoulder  at  the  various  letters. 

"I  thouglit,"  she  said  in  a  low  voice  to  Victoria,  "that  there  might 
be  one  from  the  Doctor.  lie  knew  we  were  coming  here  and  he 
has  had  time  to  send  a  letter." 

"He  is  right  in  thinking  that  it  is  my  place  to  indicate  if  I  care  to 
continue  the  acquaintance,"  Victoria  replied. 

"I  don't  see  what  that  has  to  do  with  his  friendship  with  Papa," 
Delight  rejoined,  "  he  need  not  drop  us  all  on  your  account.  Mr. 
Jenkins  would  say  it  has  a  bad  look,  as  if  he  wished  to  cover  his 
tracks,  you  know." 

At  this  point  their  host  proposed  that  they  should  visit  the  church, 
as  half  an  hour  would  probably  elapse  before  the  arrival  of  Senhor 
Palacios'  boat.  They  walked  across  the  square,  pausing  to  notice  an 
Indian  child  asleep  under  the  shadow  of  the  cross,  which  is  always 


THE   FAZENDA    DA    SI  LI' A. 


91 


y 


/  ! 


^TiT^- '! 


one  of  the  features  in  every  Soutli  American  plaza.  Tlic  church  was 
rather  a  pretentious  structure,  its  only  claim  to  interest  being  the 
gilded  Christ  on  the  cross,  which  was  sent  from  Munich  by  the  nat- 
uralist Martins,  who,  as  the  quaint  inscription  relates,  "was  saved  by 
Divine  Pity  from  the  fury  of  the  Amazonian  waves,  near  the  Vil- 
lage of  Santarem,  and  as  a  Monument  ol"  his  Pious  j',; 
Gratitude  to  the  All  Powerful,  ordered  this  Crucifix  to 
be  erected  in  this  Church  of  Nossa 
Senhora  du  Conceicao,  in  the  year 
1846." 

On  leaving  the  church  they 
walked  toward  the  beach.  A  long 
canoe  with  a  tolda^  or  covered 
space  in  the  after  part,  propelled 
by  Indian  paddlers,  rounded 

the  point  and  drifted  to  the    .j^^'^^MH/^^^^Xt,    '"-" 
shore.    A  mu-  /•    -''I^S^^m'^-^s- 

latto     stepped         -----   /       J'^/       ^m^, 

from  it  and 
approached 
them,  letter 
in  hand.  Sen- 
hor  Correa 
explained  that 

this  was  the  steward  of  Senhor  Palacios,  and  the  Professor,  taking 
the  letter  and  finding  that  it  was  really  addressed  to  him,  opened  and 
read  it.  It  was  signed  Jose  Ignacio  da  Palacios  y  Silva.  The  mys- 
tery was  solved;  their  unknown  good  genius  was  really  Senhor  Silva. 
"The  Portuguese  and  Brazilians  rejoice  in  an  abundance  of  names," 
the  Professor  explained. 

"Yes,"  Maud  replied,"!  have  seen   as   many  as  eight  fastened  to 
one    insignificant    person.      The    Senhor's    brother   v/hom   I   knew  in 


W^!^MMt'Km 


CHILD    ASLEEP    IN    THE   SHADOW   OF   THE   CROSS. 


92 


TIIRKI-:    I'ASSAR    C/K/.S  AV  SOUTH  Am  ERICA. 


Lisbon,  had  a  double  fainily  name   also,  but  it  was  vSonza  }•  Silva.     I 
don't  see  wh}-  it  should  be  dilfercnt." 

The  Senhor  made  it  plain  for  them  when  they  met.  Silva  was 
their  father's  name,  and  he  had  twice  married,  Palacios  was  the 
maiden  name  of  the  Senhor's  mother,  and  Sonza  that  of  his  step- 
mother; it  was  the  fashion  to  retain  the  mother's  name  with  the 
father's  and  even  to  drop  the  father's  when  the 
mother's  was  more  noble. 

He  had  used  both,  until,  on  coming  to  Santarem 
he  had  found  that  Silva  was  so  common  a  name  in 
this  vicinity  that  it  would  undoubtedly  give  rise  to 
confusion,  and  so  he  had  adopted  for  convenience' 
sake  the  more  distinctive  and  distincruished  name 
of  Palacios,  which  it  was  really  his  right  to  bear. 
It  was  all  plain  enough  after  the  Senhor  had  made 
it  clear,  but  as  they  vo3'aged  up  the  river,  Victoria 
persisted  that  if  the  Doctor  had  taken  an  alias  in 
this  way  Deliglit  would  have  thought  it  very  suspi- 
cious. 

Delight  had  not  told  Victoria  that  Mr.  Jenkins 
had  indeed  suspected  the  Senhor;  she  would  have 
given  as  a  reason  that  it  did  it  not  seem  worth 
Avhile,  since  Maud's  acquaintance  with  his  relatives 
vouched  for  his  identity.  She  was  silent  now,  apparentl}^  absorbed 
in  a  contemplation  of  the  landscape.  They  had  turned  to  the  south, 
and  the  broad  expanse  of  the  Tapajos  spread  out  like  a  lake  before 
them.  Forests  were  interspersed  with  sandy  beaches,  and  on  the  fur- 
ther bank  were  rocky  bluffs.  The  men  had  put  up  a  sail  and  \Vere 
resting  on  their  oars  as  the  boat  raced  along  before  a  stitf  breeze  from 
the  north.  They  passed  several  cattle  fazendas  and  stopped  before  a 
picturesque  group  of  houses,  in  a  little  grove  of  Javary  palms.  In  the 
group  on   the  beach   they  all   recognized   Senhor  Silva   in   his  broad 


SENHOR    PALACIOS' 
VALET. 


THE  FAX  EN  DA    DA    SUA' A. 


95 


Panama  liat  and  suit  of  spotless  white  linen,  lie  shook  hands 
warmly  with  the  Professor,  gave  one  arm  to  Mrs.  Holmes  and  one  to 
Victoria,  and  did  his  best  to  answer  all  the  questions  that  were  rained 
upon  him.  The  fazcnda  was  a  new  purchase.  He  had  heard  of  it  at 
Para  and  had  immediately  become  its  half  owner  with  the  Baron  of 
Boavista.  Taking  into  account  the  fact  that  he  had  only  been  on  the 
spot  two  weeks  he  had  really  accomplished  wonders.  There  liail 
been  a  saw-mill  here,  but  w^ork  had  been  discontinued  either  from 
want  of  capital  or  lack  of  enterprise;  but  enough  of  both  were  now 
to  be  supplied,  and  he  took  them  into  the  long,  low  building  and 
showed  them  the  new  steam  machinery  which  had  been  substituted 
for  the  clumsy  water  power.  He  had  purchased,  he  said,  a  little 
cargo  steamer  which  he  had  sent  up  the  river  to  Diamantina,  and 
Itaiuba  for  logs.  He  intended  to  interest  the  Indians  in  the  collec- 
tion of  the  choice  varieties,  and  to  form  wood  yards  at  various  points. 
He  was  full  of  enthusiasm  at  the  prospect  before  him,  and  the  dark- 
ness came  down  as  they  stood  chatting  beside  the  great  saws.  Then 
he  led  them  to  the  cottage  which  he  had  prepared  for  their  reception, 
a  one-story  adobe  building  roofed  with  red  tiles,  but  so  overgrown  with 
flowering  creepers,  crimson,  purple,  white,  and  passion  vines,  which 
he  had  transplanted  from  the  Avoods,  that  it  seemed  a  bower  of  beauty. 
A  broad  hall  running  through  the  building  and  open  at  each  end  di- 
vided the  apartment  of  the  Professor  and  his  wife  from  that  of  the 
girls.  The  interior  was  fresh  and  new,  floored  and  ceiled  with  the  first 
planking  turned  out  by  the  saw-mill,  in  alternate  strips  of  white  and 
red  cedar.  There  was  a  bedstead  in  Mrs.  Holmes'  room,  for  she 
could  never  accustom  herself  to  the  use  of  the  hammock,  and  a 
queer  writing-desk  for  the  Professor.  On  the  girls'  side  there  were 
rattan  sofas  and  easy  chairs,  a  case  of  stuflcd  birds,  hammocks,  and  a 
profusion  of  flowers.  There  was  an  Indian  squatting  on  a  mat  out- 
side the  door,  whom  the  Senhor  introduced  to  Professor  Holmes 
as  Pedro  the   Professor's  bodv  servant,  and  a  smiling  nut-brown  girl 


o6  THREE    ]-ASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

in  a  dark  dress  and  white  apron  adorned  with  the  effective  Indian  hice, 
was  Philomena,  tlie  young  hidies'  maid.  ^' I  hope  you  will  be  very 
Inippy  here,"  he  said  in  an  impersonal  way,  as  though  addressing  the 
entire  party,  but  Delight  saw  that  he  shot  a  stealthy  glance  at  Vic- 
toria and  she  believed  that  all  these  preparations  were  lor  her  sake. 

They  were  awakened  next  morning  by  Philomena  noiselessly  re- 
moving the  shutters  from  the  unglazed  windows,  "Where  are  we?" 
Victoria  asked  sleepily. 

''  In  fairy  land!  "  Maud  replied,  "only  look  through  that  window  at 
that  mass  of  blossoms,  bromelias,  orchids,  ferns,  cecropias,  fuchsias, 
cape  jessamines,  and  sensitive  plants.     It  is  a  little  paradise." 

The  girls  hastened  to  dress  and  explore  their  surroundings,  as  they 
had  not  been  able  to  do  in  the  dusk  of  the  late  evening.  .Ml  this 
luxuriance  of  bloom  seemed  to  be  massed  about  their  cottage,  while 
the  larger  house,  the  Senhor's  residence,  stood  near  the  saw-mill  with 
only  a  shuttlecock-shaped  ubassu  palm  to  shade  it. 

"It  is  very  plain,"  said  Delight,  "that  he  has  had  all  these  beautiful 
things  transplanted  from  the  forest  especially  to  adorn  our  cottage. 
What  extravagance  it  is." 

"  But  they  do  not  cost  anything  here,"  Victoria  replied. 

'*  The\-  cost  time  and  labor,"  Delight  observed. 

"And  good  taste,"  Maud  added.  "He  has  arranged  everything 
with  the  skill  of  a  landscape  gardener." 

Philomena  now  informed  them  that  the  Senhor  would  be  happy  to 
see  them  at  breakfast,  which  was  spread  in  the  open  air  under  the 
ubassu  palm,  one  of  whose  pendant  branches  swa3'ed  by  a  little 
negro  served  as  a  punkah  and  kept  away  all  disturbing  insects. 

Mrs.  Holmes  complimented  the  Senhor  on  his  cook,  for  tirst  they 
were  served  to  excellent  turtle  soup,  then  to  tapir  steak,  which  the 
Professor  pronounced  as  juic}'  and  tender  as  beet. 

"The  animal  was  shot  by  my  own  hunters,"  explained  the  Senhor, 
"''if  you  would  enjoy  a  hunt  you  shall  have  one  while  you  are  here;" 


ORCHIDS,    ETC. 


THE  FAZEXDA   DA    SILl'A. 


99 


and  he  pressed  them  to  tr}'  the  potted  birds  which  formed  tlic  next 
dish.  Then  came  an  arrowroot  custard,  flavored  with  vanilhi  from 
orchids  growing  on  liis  own  place,  fried  bananas,  gapotis  and  other 
fruits  and  excellent  coffee. 

As  the  breakfast  progressed  he  unfolded  plans  for  their  amuse- 
ment, which  if  fully  carried  out  would  have  detained  them  for  a 
month. 

'^  We  must  have  a  night's  fishing  by  torchlight,   it  is  great  sport, 


HEAD   OF   SWIMMING    TAFIK. 


and  a  trip  to  one  of  the  interior  lakes  to  see  the  Victoria  Regia.  I 
have  heard  of  a  spot  Vv'here  it  grows  in  great  profusion.  Then  we 
must  make  an  excursion  for  birds;  you  have  a  few  specimens  in  your 
cottage  of  the  varieties  to  be  found  in  this  region.  When  my  steamer 
returns  I  want  to  take  you  up  to  Diamantina.  1  believe  there  are 
some  fossils  up  that  way  which  may  interest  the  Professor.     And  we 


lOO  THHEE    VASSAR   GIRLS  AA'  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

certainly  must  liave  a  jaguar  lumt.  The  tiger-shooting  you  read 
about  in  ^  Mr.  Isaacs'  is  nothing  to  it.  We  must  secure  several  tine 
skins  for  you  to  carry  back  to  the  States  as  trophies." 

"My  dear  t'ellow,"  the  Professor  began,  in  mild  expostulation;  but 
the  Senhor  would  not  hear  him.  lie  had  begun  to  cliat  with  Maud 
about  the  native  woods.  "I  believe  you  mentioned  that  you  had 
studied  wood-carving  at  the  school  in  Cincinnati.  You  are  the  most 
wonderful  person ;  it  seems  to  me  you  have  been  everywhere  and 
studied  everything.  1  have  a  collection  of  over  a  hundred  different 
kinds  of  woods  in  my  office,  and  I  would  like  to  have  your  opinion 
as  to  which  are  the  best  adapted  for  carving,  and  which  for  mar- 
quetry." 

Then  he  turned  to  the  Professor  again,  and  recollected  to  have 
heard  that  a  settler  from  the  Southern  States,  a  near  neighbor  of  his, 
had  a  fine  collection  of  insects  which  it  might  be  worth  his  trouble  to 
see.  Pedro  would  show  him  oyer  that  very  morning;  he  could  rest 
there  during  the  heat  of  the  da}',  and  be  back  in  time  for  the  lishing 
which  he  had  planned  for  that  night.  The  Professor  acceded  readily 
to  this  plan,  and  after  seeing  him  off  the  others  were  ushered  into  the 
office,  where  Maud  found  not  only  the  specimens  but  a  neat  little 
turning-lathe,  and  several  chisels  and  gouges  ready  to  her  hand.  She 
examined  their  keen  edges  with  the  appreciation  of  an  expert,  while 
the  Senhor  talked  entertainingly  of  wonderful  examples  of  wood- 
car\ing  which  he  had  seen  in  Europe,  and  told  effectively  a  little  fair}- 
story  of  an  oak  that  longed  to  bear  tulips,  and  how  at  last,  when  the 
tree  was  felled,  a  skilful  carver  cut  the  flowers  from  its  heart. 

Maud  looked  up  from  the  beautiful  bit  o'i  inara  coatiara,  or  striped 
wood,  which  she  was  testing,  and  thought  that  the  Senhor  was  really 
a  verv  entertainingf  man. 

"What  a  pity,"  he  said,  "  that  Walter  Scott  could  not  have  had 
you.  Miss  Maud,  to  realize  his  pretty  fancy  for  a  set  of  chessmen." 

"What  was  that?"  Victoria  asked. 


■Jm 


THE  FAZEXDA    DA    SILVA.  103 

^' Don't  you  remember?  lie  writes  in  liis  autobio^^raphy,"  —  and 
the  Senhor  drew  from  his  pocket  a  note-book,  and  read:  "'  Wherever 
I  went  I  cut  a  piece  ol"  a  branch  from  a  tree;  these  constituted  wliat 
I  called  my  log-book;  and  I  intended  to  have  a  set  of  chessmen  out 
of  them,  each  having  reference  to  the  place  where  it  was  cut  —  as 
the  kings  from  Falkland  and  Holy  Rood;  the  queens  from  Qiieen 
Mary's  yew^  tree,  at  Crookston;  the  bishops  from  abbeys  or  Episco- 
pal palaces;  the  knights  from  baronial  residences;  the  rooks  iVom 
royal  fortresses;  and  the  pawns  generally  from  places  worth}-  of 
historical  note.' " 

Maud  was  struck  with  the  idea.  "  I  have  a  friend,  Barbara  Feath- 
erstonhaugh,  in  England,"  she  said,  "  who  will  get  me  the  woods,  and 
I  will  do  it.  I  wish  I  had  known  of  it  when  I  was  abroad,  there 
were  so  many  interesting  places  which  we  visited  in  Spain  and  Port- 
ugal. Think  of  a  bishop  from  the  Escurial,  a  knight  from  one  of 
Bobadil's  }ew^  trees  at  Granada,  a  black  king  from  the  old  Moorish 
castle  at  Cintra.  Oh!  that  would  be  the  very  thing!  I  could  carve 
all  the  black  pieces  to  represent  Moors,  and  the  white  should  be  Fer- 
dinand and  Isabella  and  their  followers.  Senhor  wSiha,  will  you  not 
write  to  your  sister  to  send  me  some  bits  of  wood  iVom  that  old 
jNIoorish  ruin  at  Cintra?" 

The  Senhor  for  some  reason  seemed  for  a  moment  quite  embar- 
rassed by  this  simple  request.  He  hesitated,  changed  color,  but 
quickly  recovered  himself  and  agreed  to  do  so. 

""If  it  is  an}^  trouble  I  will  do  it  myself,"  Maud  said.  '^  I  would 
quite  enjo}'  writing  your  sister  and  telling  her  how  we  happened  to 
meet  you." 

"  I  beg  you  will  allow  me  to  do  it,"  the  Senhor  replied  hastily.  "  I 
have  intended  writing  home  for  a  week  past,  but  have  been  so  busy 
putting  everything  in  order.  I  want  to  persuade  my  family  to  emi- 
grate since  I  have  purchased  this  place.  I  think  I  can  make  them 
very  comfortable   here.     There   is  really  \  ery  good   society  at  Santa- 


I04  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

rem,  and  sonic  of  the  wealthier  fazenda  proprietors  are  gentlemen. 
I  have  an  invitation  lor  you  all  to  a  dinner,  from  their  illustriousnesses 
the  Baron  and  Baroness  of  Boavista.  Don't  you  think  that  ladies  of 
cultivation  might  be  happy  even  in  this  wild  place?" 

Again  his  remark  was  an  impersonal  one;  but  h^  looked  at  Victo- 
ria as  he  spoke,  and  Victoria,  feeling  herself  addressed,  answered, — 
"Certainly;  the  place  is  a  perfect  paradise.  I  should  think  one 
might  be  happy  here  forever,  provided  one's  friends  were  with  one." 

Somehow  the  remark  sounded  very  much  like  the  one  from  the 
Doctor  which  had  so  offended  her,  and,  realizing  this,  Victoria  blushed, 
though  angry  with  herself  for  doing  so. 

Leaving  Maud  with  her  carving  the  Senhor  led  the  others  into  the 
srardcn.  There  were  ferns  here  which  he  thought  might  interest 
Delight,  and  they  would  make  a  botanizing  expedition  to  the  woods 
in  a  few  days  lor  more. 

'^  You  seem  to  have  provided  for  the  amusement  of  ever}-  one," 
Victoria  said.  "  One  would  fancy  that  you  were  determined  on 
making  us  all  in  love  with  the  place." 

''I  wish  I  could  discover  what  would  interest  you  in  it,"  he  replied. 

''Have  you  not  heard?  I  have  developed  a  scientific  mania  for 
palms." 

"Good.  There  are  several  species  peculiar  to  the  Tapajos.  I  do 
not  think  you  will  find  the  Jara  elsewhere.  Has  Philomena  shown 
you  her  lace  work?  It  is  really  curious.  I  thought  3'ou  might  care 
to  take  lessons  from  her.  This  Indian  lace  will  be  a  novelty  to  intro- 
duce to  3'our  decorative  art  friends  at  home.  You  see  that  I  feel  that 
I  must  make  you  happy  here  as  long  as  I  can,  for  I  shall  be  desper- 
ately lonely  after  you  have  gone." 

The  Professor  returned  at  night  enthusiastic  but  quite  tired  out. 
The  collection  of  insects  which  he  had  seen  was  rcall}^  a  remarkable 
one,  embracing  many  new  species.  lie  must  go  there  again,  and  take 
Maud  with   him  to   make   drawings.      lie  had  had  one  entomological 


THE   FAX  EN  DA    DA    SILVA. 


105 


experience  on  his  way  liome  which  was  not  \  cry  pleasant,  having 
crossed  the  line  of  march  of  a  company  of  fire  ants,  which  had  stung 
his  ankles  unmerciful]}-. 

"They  are  one  of  the  pests  ol"  this  region,"  the  Senhor  explained; 
"and  by  the  way,  have  3'ou  ne\  cr  heard  that  they  act  an  important 
part  in  the  native  wedding  ceremony?" 

No  one  knew  of  this,  and  he  told  them  entertainingly  that  when  an 
Indian  wished  to  marry  he  was  submitted  to  the  ordeal  of  having  his 
hand  tied  up  in  a  bag  of  fire  ants,  his  endurance  of  the  pain  proving 
his  fitness  for  the  trials  of  matrimony. 

The  Professor  laughed,  —  "I  certainly  have  suffered  more  this 
afternoon,"  he  said,  "than  in  all  the  twenty  years  of  my  married  life." 

His  feet  were  so  swollen  that  it  was  necessary  to  put  him  to  bed, 
and  to  defer  the  fishinor  excursion  until  another  evenins:;  and  this  the 
Senhor  seemed  very  willing  to  do,  though  he  was  profuse  in  his 
polite  regrets  for  tlie  Professor's  misfortune. 


io6 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER    VII. 


QUEER    FISH. 


THE  days  drifted  by  so  pleasantly  at  the  Fazenda  da  Silva  that 
a  fortnight  passed  before  anyone  had  realized  it.     The  fishing 
excursion  took  place  in  the  second  week. 

The  night  was  calm  and  splendid,  the  sky  full  of  stars,  and  the  air 
of  glancing  fireflies.  Both  were  repeated  in  the  black  water  of  the 
river,  and  the  reflections  were  so  intermingled  that  it  seemed  to  the 
observer  that  the  stars  danced  about  him.  They  were  in  two 
canoes,  —  Graciliano,  the  best  fisherman  on  the  place,  the  Senhor,  De- 
light, and  Victoria  in  the  first,  and  Pedro,  the  Professor,  Mrs.  Holmes, 
and  ^laud  in  the  second.  Each  boat  was  manned  with  Indian  pad- 
dlers.  Graciliano  and  Pedro  stood  in  the  bow,  each  with  a  waving 
torch  in  his  left  hand  and  a  lon^r  trident  in  his  right.  The  Senhor's 
fisherman  is  falsely  named  the  graceful,  ^Nlaud  thinks,  for  a  more 
misshapen  monster  she  has  rarcl}'  seen.  He  lias  a  scjuat  figure,  his 
neck  is  awr}',  he  is  squint-eyed  and  pock-marked,  and  a  part  of  one 
foot  has  been  bitten  ofl'  by  a  poisonous  water-snake.  But  he  can 
spear  fish  if  he  is  no  beauty,  and  his  brawny  arm  shakes  his  palm 
torch  until  the  sparks  mingle  with  the  dancing  stars  and  fly  to  meet 
their  reflections  in  the  water.     And  as  the  sparks  hiss  and  die  into 


QUEER  FISIL 


107 


blackness  with  that  fiery  kiss,  a  fish  leaps,  the  trident  descends 
unerringly,  and  a  huge  fish  Bounders  in  tlie  bottom  of  the  boat 
near  Victoria's  fi;et.  Slie  gives  a  quick,  nervous  movement,  and 
might  have  thllen  into  the  water,  but  the  Senhor  steadies  her;  and 
she  seats  herself  hnther  back  in  the 
boat.  The  Senhor  stands  erect.  lie 
is  drawino-  a  srreat  iron-wood  bow, 
and  is  looking  over  the  water  for  some- 
thing at  which  to  aim.  A  dark  object 
rises  silently  at  some  distance;  the 
arrow  whizzes  across  the  water;  there 
is  an  angrv  snort,  and  an  alligator  sinks 
wounded  below  the  water.  The  pad- 
dlers  guide  the  boat  out  of  the  broad 
sheet  of  moonlight  close  to  the  bank, 
where  the  assai  palms  throw  a  dense 
shadow  on  the  water,  and  here  Gracili- 
ano  shakes  his  firebrand  until  he  looks 
a  very  Pluto — god  of  darkness  and 
fire  —  and  the  fishes  leap  to  their  death 
and  struo:2;le  in  the  bottom  of  the  boat. 

They  are  queer  objects,  certainly,  and 
the  Professor  regards  them  with  much 
interest.  "Nowhere  in  the  world,"  he 
remarks  to  Maud,  ^'  are  there  stranger 
or  more  varied  forms.     Agassiz  report-  oraciliano  speaking  fish. 

ed  the  startling  fact  that  the  variety  of  fish  in  the  Amazons  is  twice 
as  great  as  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  a  larger  number  than  the  At- 
lantic from  one  pole  to  another.-' 

"How  many  species  are  there?"  Maud   asked,   half  indifferently, 
for  she  is  more  interested  in  the  brilliant  scene  than  in  icthyology. 

"  Eiirhteen  hundred  to  two  thousand.     It  is  well  that  the  waters  are 


io8 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  L\  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


SO  prolific,  for  the  natives  live  almost  entirely  upon  fish.  The  pira- 
ruca  more  than  takes  the  place  with  them  of  our  codfish.  It  is  a 
huLCC  fish  fi-om  ten  to  thirteen  feet  lonu",  with  a  plate  armor  of  u^reat 
scales  bordered   with  a  red  line,  and  its  odor  when  salted   is  not  of 


roses. 


Mrs.  Holmes  did  not  speak  much;  she  was  silently  battling  with 
her  old  enemies  the  mosquitoes.  "Was  it  not  Professor  Ortonr"' 
Maud  asked,  'Svho  was  reminded  here  of  Midshipman  Wilberforce's 


■JllK   I'IKAKUCU. 

apostrophe, — ^Ye  greedy  animals  I  am  ashamed  of  you.  Cannot 
you  once  forego  your  dinner  and  feast  your  mind  with  the  poetry  oi 
the  landscape.' " 

Suddenly  the  boats  were  surrounded  by  a  school  of  leaping  crea- 
tures larger  than  any  of  the  fish  yet  speared.  Graciliano  threw  his 
trident  into  the  bottom  of  the  boat  and  sat  down. 

'^What  are  thev?"  Victoria  asked  in  some  alarm,  "not  sharks?" 
"No,  indeed,  sharks  never    come   up    here,"  replied   the   Senhor, 
"  they  are  only  dolphins;  but  the  Indians  have  a  superstition  that  dol- 


QUEER   FISH.  109 

phins  can  change  themselves  into  men,  and  tliat  they  olten  do  so  and 
commit  a  great  deal  of  mischief.  The  onh'  way  which  you  can  de- 
tect them  is  to  look  at  their  feet,  which  have  the  tricing  peculiarity  of 
being  turned  backward.  Graciliano  would  not  dare  to  incur  the  an- 
ger of  these  backward-walking  pixies,  for  fear  that  they  might  carrv 
otf  his  wife,  or  take  revenge  upon  him  in  some  other  way." 

"IIow^  very  curious,"  Victoria  said;  '"will  he  not  tell  us  more 
about  them?  Please  ask  him,  Senhor  Siha,  and  see  what  he 
will  say." 

But  Graciliano,  on  being  questioned,  only  hung  his  head  sheepishly 
and  said  they  were  queer  fish;  she  must  ask  the  Indian  ^vomen 
about  them. 

"  Philomena  will  be  more  communicative,"  said  the  Senhor. 
"There  are  many  myths  about  the  dolphins:  some  say  that  they  are 
in  love  w^ith  the  Indian  girls,  and  it  is  for  their  sake  that  they  assume 
human  shape  ;  and  there  is  another  more  obscure  tradition  which 
makes  them  sons  of  the  Amazons,  which  those  cruel  dames  drowned 
in  the  river,  wishing  only  to  rear  their  daughters  and  perpetuate  a 
race  of  female  warriors." 

"  Poor  enchanted  princes,"  mused  Victoria.  "  I  did  not  know  the 
Indians  had  such  poetical  fancies." 

"  How  strange  it  is,"  Delight  remarked,  ^'  that  that  myth  about  the 
Amazons  should  be  so  widel}'  spread.  Columbus  belie\  ed  it,  and  so 
did  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  and  yet  it  is  manifestly  an  importation  of  an 
old-world  fable." 

•'■  With  the  shadow^s  looming  about  so  mysteriously,  and  the  torch- 
lights flaring  and  flickering  so  weirdly,  I  am  inclined  to  believe  in 
the  myth,"  said  Victoria.  "See,  the  dolphins  have  vanished;  it  is 
because  they  have  caught  a  glimpse  of  their  warrior  mothers  in  their 
cuirasses  of  plated  gold,  and  —  O  Senhor  Silva,  what  is  that  crea- 
ture?" for  Graciliano  had  speared  a  very  ugly  customer  indeed,  —  a 
dogfish,  with  savagre  teeth. 


no  THREE    VASSAR    GIRLS   h\  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

They  moored  their  boats  shortly  after  on  a  sandy  beach,  and  built 
a  bonhre  under  a  clump  of  palms.  Here  they  ate  the  supper 
which  they  had  brought  with  them,  and  told  stories  and  chatted,  while 
the  shells  of  the  Brazil  nuts  which  they  threw  into  the  lire  snapped 
and  crackled.  Then  they  drifted  home  in  the  early  morning,  the 
i^irls  singini^  Lord  Lytton's  Boat  Song  of  Lake  Como.  Softly  the 
sweet  voices  echoed  and  died  on  the  broad  lake-like  expanse  of 
the  Tapajos,  and  the  stars  and  fireflies  danced  with  their  reflections  in 
time  to  the  rhythm. 

"The  beautiful  lake,  the  Larian  lake  ! 

Soft  lake  like  a  silver  sea, 
The  Huntress  Queen,  with  her  nymphs  of  sheen, 

Never  had  bath  like  thee  ; 
See,  the  Lady  of  Night  and  her  maids  of  light 

Even  now  are  mid-deep  in  thee." 

"  Good  night,"  said  the  Senhor,  "  noche  clam  y  soxnaP 

The  next  morning  Maud  spent  in  making  drawings  of  the  flsh  for 
the  Professor.  Pedro  trudged  several  times  from  the  boat  to  the 
house  with  as  much  as  he  could  carry.  The  Senhor  found  her  at  her 
Vv^ork. 

"You  do  not  look  as  if  you  enjoyed  this,"  he  ventured. 

"No,"  she  replied;  "it  is  not  very  artistic  work.  If  Mr.  Jenkins 
were  only  here  with  his  camera!  " 

"The  saints  forbid!"  the  Senhor  exclaimed  hastily. 

"You  do  not  like  Mr.  Jenkins?"  Maud  asked. 

"  He  is  a  queer  fish,"  the  Senhor  replied  evasively. 

And  that  afternoon  he  made  the  same  remark  of  another  of  their 
fellow-voyagers.  He  came  upon  Delight  and  Victoria,  who,  with 
Philomena,  were  attempting  to  penetrate  a  little  way  into  the  forest. 
Delight  was  looking  for  ferns  as  usual,  but  Victoria  was  following  up 
a  salsaparilla  vine. 


PEDRO   RETURNING   FROM    FISHING. 


(2UEER   I'lSlL 


I  I 


*' I  am  IryiiiL;-  to  learn  all  I  can  about  the  medicinal  plants,''  sIk- 
said,  "'Dr.  Stillman  intcrcslctl  nic  in  them." 

"  Vcs,"  the  Senhor  replied  indill'erently ;  and  then  he  remarked,  as 
he  had  ol"  Mr.  Jenkins,  "The  Doctor  was  a  cjueer  lish." 

"He  is  a  very  agreeable  gentleman,"'  Victoria  replied  hotly.  ''I  was 
desperately  ignorant  about  Brazilian  botany,  and  he  made  it  \er\- 
I'ascinating  to  me.  Di^  you  know  \\\k:  iruanuia  shrub  r'  Ik-  told  me 
I  would  Hnd  it  on  the  Tapajos.  The  Indians  make  a  drug  from  the 
seeds,  which  takes  the  place  with 
them  ot"  quinine." 

The    Senhor    had    ne\er   heard 
oi guard )ui^  but  Philomena  knew 
it   well,    and    promised    to   obtain 
some     c  a  k  e  s 
ot'    it  lor  her. 
From  her  de- 
scription    it 
resemble  d 
chocolate,  and 
w  a  s      oft  e  n 
moulded    into 
the    shape    of 
t  u  1-  tics      o  r 

fishes.  ^'  It  seems  to  me  verv  odd,"  Victoria  said,  "  that  yon,  a  native 
of  the  country,  should  know  less  about  its  products  than  the  Doctor, 
who  is  a  stranger  here." 

The  Senhor  flushed  ancrrilv,  and  Victoria  felt  that  she  had  been 
rude  once  more,  and  hasten<.'d  to  explain  that  she  presumed  it  was 
because  this  was  a  matter  only  interesting  to  physicians. 

Delight  regarded  the  Senhor  keenly  with  her  calm,  judicial  eyes. 
It  was  evident  that  he  did  not  like  the  Doctor,  and  this  added  weight 
to  her  own  distrust. 


INDIAN    CHILD'S    !IOHHY-HOKSI£. 


11^  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  JX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

She  determined  to  have  a  talk  with  Maud,  and  so,  after  dinner, 
while  Philomena  was  bleaching  linen  by  the  river  (for  the  Senhor  did 
not  believe  in  the  Portuguese  proverb,  "As  dirty  as  a  tablecloth"), 
and  \'ictoria  was  reading  aloud  to  the  Professor  from  the  Annals  of 
the  Ilakluvt  Societ}',  Delight  was  glad  to  see  Maud  lay  aside  the 
sketch  she  had  been  making  of  a  little  Indian  boy  playing  at  hobby- 
horse with  an  irregular  tree-root  near  the  sawmill,  and  announce  her 
intention  of  writing  a  letter.  Delight  followed  her  to  the  cottage, 
remarking  carelessly,  as  Maud  arranged  her  writing-materials,  "The 
Senhor  seems  to  have  formed  a  prejudice  against  the  Doctor/' 

''  Urn,"  said  :Maud. 

*■  What  did  you  remark,  dear?"  inquired  Delight. 

^'Nothing.  I  was  onlv  thinking  that  he  seems  to  be  prejudiced 
against  Mr.  Jenkins  as  well." 

"Well,  what  does  that  go  to  prove?" 

"Nothing.      I  wish  it  did." 

"Maud,  don't  you  think  the  Senhor  is  very  partial  to  Victoria?" 

"Yes;   and  so  was  the  Doctor." 

"That  may  explain  his  prejudice." 

"Very  satisfactorily,  to  my  mind,  but  it  does  not  account  for  his 
antipath}'  to  Mr.  Jenkins." 

"None  of  us  are  very  fond  of  ls\x.  Jenkins.  I  wonder  whether 
Victoria  likes  the  Senhor."' 

"I  hope  not." 

"Why?  Don't  you  think  it  would  be  very  nice?  Think  what  a 
magnificent  place  this  could  be  made;  and  of  course  they  would  live 
in  New  York  part  of  the  time;  and  Mr.  Delavan  could  come  down 
here  just  as  well  as  not.      I  think  it  would  be  charming." 

"  I  do  not.      I  had  much  rather  she  would  fancy  the  Doctor." 

"  With  all  ^Mr.  Jenkins's  suspicions.'' 

"A  fig  for  Mr.  Jenkins.  I  like  the  Doctor,  while  this  plausible, 
popular  Senhor  is  altogether  too  fine  for  me." 


QUEER  FISH. 


115 


"]Maud  Van  Vechtcn!  when  you  know  all  of  his  lumily." 
"Very  good  families  sometimes  have  very  disreputable  sons.  1  am 
certain  that  the  Silvas  would  ha\e  referred  to  this  brother  in  .Vmeriea 
il  there  had  not  been  some  good  reason,  and  1  am  writing  to  Can- 
dida at  this  present  moment.  I  believe  that  she  will  tell  me  the  truth, 
and  I  reserve  my  opinion  of  the  Senhor  until  lier  answer  arrives.'' 

Maud  wrote  a  long  time,  and  when  her  letter  was  finished  she  placed 
it  in  Philomena's  possession,  requesting  her  to  send  it  with  the  other 
letters  from  the  Fazenda  to  the  post-office  at  Santarem.  Philomena 
placed  the  letter  upon  the  desk  in  her  master's  office,  and  if  Maud 
could  have  looked  into  the  room  late  that  night  she  would  have  seen 
a  curious  and  not  a  reassuring  sight.  The  Senhor  entered  the  room 
after  bidding  his  guests  good-night,  lit  a  cigar,  and  proceeded  to 
write  a  letter.  He  caught  sight,  as  he  wrote,  of  T^Iaud's  letter  lying 
beside  him,  and  tossed  it  carelessly  into  the  mail-bag.  Then  he 
wrote  more  slowly,  evidently  not  thinking  of  the  words  which  his 
fingers  traced.  Finally  he  laid  down  his  pen,  took  out  the  letter,  and 
studied  the  address.  Then  he  moistened  the  envelope  and  waited 
until  it  softened  sufficiently  to  allow  of  his  carefully  opening  it.  He 
next  read  the  letter  from  beginning  to  end.  A  scornful  smile  curled 
his  mustachios  as  he  finished  and  placed  it  in  a  little  brass  dish 
destined  to  receive  cigar  ashes.  He  lit  the  letter,  and  as  it  flashed 
into  flame  the  smile  on  his  face  was  still  more  unpleasant  to  look 
upon. 


Il6  TIIRL1-:    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 


ON    THE    TRAIL. 


MR.  JP:NKINS  sat  behind  the  church  at  Monte  Alegre  and 
played  cards  steadil}'  with  the  cic/c,  but  his  thoughts  took  a 
wider  range  than  the  cards  which  he  held  in  his  hand.  He  glanced 
expectantly  up  the  river  for  the  faint  thread  of  smoke  which  would 
tell  him  of  the  coming  of  a  steamer,  and  his  mind  was  busy  with 
plans  for  entrapping  the  Doctor. 

But,  though  the  priest  gave  his  entire  attention  to  the  game,  he  lost 
constantly,  and  finally  he  threw  down  his  cards  with  the  impatient 
exclamation,  "  I  can  play  no  longer,  for  I  have  nothing  left  to  stake 
but  my  cassock  and  breviar}.'' 

Mr.  Jenkins  absent-mindedl}'  drew  in  his  winnings,  and  as  he  did 
so  his  thouii^hts  w'cre  somethinir  like  these:  "I  must  stick  close  to 
the  Doctor,  but  even  if  I  find  him  he  is  not  likely  to  desire  my  com- 
pany, and  he  will  give  me  the  slip  again  at  the  first  opportunity.  I 
must  get  up  some  disguise,  and  make  his  acquaintance  again  under  a 
new  perconalit}'.  Eh!  what  did  3'ou  say?"  he  asked  the  priest. 
^'You  want  to  play  for  your  clothes.  You  have  another  suit  I 
suppose.  Well,  I  don't  mind.  Here's  what  I  have  already  won 
from  you  against  a  gown,  a  skull-cap,  a  prayer-book  and  a  rosary." 

Mr.  Jenkins  was  ccrtainlv  an  adept  iii  card-playing,  for  once  again 
he  won.  The  priest  handed  him  a  little  bag  containing  his  extra 
wardrobe,  and  Mr.  Jenkins  good-naturedl}'  returned  his  other  win- 
nings. A  half-hour  later  a  strange  priest,  whose  gaunt  form  was 
clothed  in  a  ver}-  ill  fitting  and  baggy  gown  evidently  made  for  a 
person   of  very  different  proportions,  strolled   down  to  the   landing, 


ox   THE    TRAIL. 


IT7 


carryinij;"  a  hand-baLC  and  a  sneak-box,  and  took  passa^-c  on  a  steamer 
bound  down  the  river. 

Dr.  Stillnian  remained  lor  several  days  with  his  patient  and  had 
the  satisfaction  ol'  seeing  her  gain 
rapidlw  It  was  good  lor  liim  to 
receive  encouragement  now  in 
the  direction  of  his  chosen  life- 
work,  for  his  pride  had  been 
severely  wounded  and  he  was 
sorely    in    need    of   consolation. 

One  day,  just  as  he  was  becom- 
ing convinced  that  his  ministra- 
tions of  mercy  were  no  longer 
needed,  the  tall  figure  of  a  priest 
darkened  the  door  of  the  poor 
hut,  and  he  heard  the  voice  of 
the  daughter  of  the  sick  woman 
in  altercation  with  the  stranger. 
"Thanks  be  to  the  V^irgin,  you  are 
not  needed,"  she  said.  ''You  have 
doubtless  heard  that  my  mother 
was  dying,  but  the  good  doctor 
has  recovered  her  of  her  malady, 
and,  glory  be  to  the  saints,  she  has 
no  longer  any  need  of  the  conso- 
lations of  religion." 

This  was  rather  a  strange  way 
of  putting  it,  the  Doctor  thought. 
Was  it  true  that  only  when  in  sore  trouble   the   human  heart  reaches 
out  for  God's  help? 

The  voices  continued,  and  the  priest  did  not  seem   inclined  to  cro 
away;   indeed  the  Doctor  fancied  that  he  was  asking  for  him,  and  he 


THE  FALSE  PRIEST. 


Il8  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

canic  lorward  to  ascertain  liis  business.  The  stranger  was  a  spare 
clean-slia\cn  man  witli  an  immense  pair  of  wire  goggles  protecting 
liis  eyes,  lie  spoke  to  tlie  Doctor  in  English.  '^  M y  name  is  Brother 
Dennis,"  he  said.  ^'  I  am  an  Irishman  Irom  the  monastery  of'St.  Patrick 
in  the  County  Kerry,  I  have  been  sent  out  to  this  country  by  my 
superior  to  locate  a  mission.  I  have  scanty  knowledge  of  the  lan- 
guage, and  hearing  that  you  ^vere  also  a  foreigner,  travelling  for 
pleasure,  I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  ask  you  if  I  may  profit  by  your 
company  so  long  as  our  jxitlis  lie  in  the  same  direction." 

There  was  something  indefinably  familiar  in  the  stranger's  voice. 
It  seemed  to  the  Doctor  that  he  must  have  met  him  before,  but  he 
could  not  remember  ever  to  have  seen  just  such  a  person.  His  good 
impulses  prompted  him  to  be  of  \vhat  service  he  could,  and  he  in- 
formed Brother  Dennis  that  he  was  now  ready  to  ascend  the  ri\  er 
and  would  be  glad  of  his  companionship.  Brother  Dennis  pro\ed 
an  entertaining  comrade;  he  talked  much,  and  he  had  an  insinuating 
manner  which  led  the  Doctor  to  unbosom  much  of  his  own  private 
histor3\  He  drew  a  well-thumbed  pack  of  cards  from  the  pocket  of 
his  gown  on  their  lirst  day  together  on  board  the  steamer,  and  was 
greatly  disappointed  to  tind  that  the  Doctor  did  not  play.  He  seemed 
to  have  a  good  deal  of  luggage  for  a  travelling  Dominican,  but  prob- 
ably that  great  brown-paper  parcel  was  tilled  with  religious  books  lor 
distribution  among  the  natives.  When  apparently  engaged  in  reading 
his  breviary  he  watched  the  Doctor  closel}',  and  soon  discovered  that 
there  was  a  secret  preying  upon  his  mind.  As  they  sat  on  deck  in 
the  moonlight  the  second  evening.  Brother  Dennis,  who  had  become 
very  intimate  for  their  brief  acquaintance,  began  to  speak  of  the 
relief  of  mind  atTorded  bv  the  Roman  Catholic  religion  by  the  con- 
fessional. ^'Ah!  m}'  friend,"  he  exclaimed,  "imagine  the  torture  of  a 
convicting  conscience  silenced  forever,  the  pangs  of  remorse  obliter- 
ated in  the  peace  of  absolution,  and  your  secret  safel}'  guarded  in  the 
bosom  of  the  church." 


ON  THE    TRAIL. 


119 


He  spoke  loni;-  and  <;-lo\vingly  in  this  strain,  witlioiit  awakening  any 
response  iVoni  liis  companion,  who  admitted,  indeed,  that  lie  was  un- 
happy, but  assured  him  that  lie  saw  no  allurements  in  eonlession. 

"You  are  a  sly  one,"  the  I'alse  priest  said  to  himsell;  "  but  I  will  find 
out  your  secret  Tor  all  }our  pains  to  conceal  it." 

Mr.  Jenkins  was  sure  that  the  funds  stolen  from  Gold,  Glitter  & 
Co.,  which  were  principally  in  coin  and  bills  of  exchange  on  foreign 
houses,  must  be  salelv  stored  somewhere  in  the  Doctor's  bajierasfe. 
He  searched  everything  carefully  as  he  found  opportunity,  boring 
through  the  sides  and  bottom  of  the  medicine  chest  with  a  fine  gim- 
let, without  linding  any  secret  compartments.  There  was  rather  too 
expensive  a  set  of  surgical  instruments  to  ha\e  been  provided  simply 
as  bits  of  theatrical  property  and  make-up,  and  the  Doctor  read  cer- 
tain abstruse  medical  works  with  a  greater  gusto  than  Father  Dennis 
bestowed  upon  his  breviary.  ''What  if  I  am  a  lool  after  all?"  he 
said  to  himself  "Some  one  else  will  get  that  live  thousand  dollars, 
and  I  sliall  be  the  laughing-stock  of  the  entire  detective  force." 

But  Dr.  Stillman  spent  much  of  his  time  lately  in  writing.  Some- 
times he  appeared  to  give  great  thought  to  what  he  wrote,  and  the 
page  grew  only  by  a  line  or  two  in  as  many  hours;  again  he  would 
dash  oti'  sheet  alter  sheet  with  the  energy  of  inspiration,  but  after  lie 
had  written  for  a  long  time  he  would  invariably  tear  up  what  he  had 
composed  and  scatter  it  upon  the  river  in  a  hundred  tin}-  bits;  then  he 
would  spring  from  his  seat  and  excitedly  pace  the  deck,  while  ]Mr. 
Jenkins,  alias  Brother  Dennis,  sat  and  watched  him,  drawing  his  own 
conclusions.  What  could  he  be  writing,  —  a  medical  thesis.''  Mr. 
Jenkins  did  not  think  so,  and  he  was  determined  that  when  the  letter, 
or  whatever  it  might  prove  to  be,  was  finished,  Brother  Dennis  should 
be  its  first  reader.  Meantime,  where  could  he  conceal  the  stolen 
funds  .^  The  conclusion  was  inevitable  that  they  must  be  about  his 
person.  At  their  last  landing  before  reaching  Santarem  the  Doctor 
indulged   in   a   swim.       Mr.  Jenkins   watched    him    turn    into   a   little 


I  20 


THREE    VASSAR    GIRLS  J.\  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


creek,  and  then  made  a  hurried  but  thorough  examination  of  his 
clotliing-,  carefully  searching  for  false  pockets  and  double  linings  with- 
out anything  in  the  least  suspicious. 

At  Santarem  the  Doctor  had  informed  him  that  lie  had  business, — 


CANOEING  IN  A  SUBMERGED  FOREST. 


"probably,"   ^Ir.    Jenkins  thought,  "  the   investment   of  some    of  his 
ill-gotten  gains,"  and  here  he  determined  to  redouble  his  vigilance. 

The  Doctor's  first  errand  at  Santarem  was  to  inquire  whether  there 
were  any  letters  awaiting  him.      He  was  handed  a  short  one  from  the 


ON   THE    TRAIL.  12 1 

Professor,  announcing  tlic  arrival  of  liis  party  and  their  acceptance 
of  an  invitation  to  visit  the  fazenda  of  a  certain  Senhor  Pahicios. 
The  Doctor  made  inquiries  as  to  tlie  situation  of  this  fazenda  and 
engaged  a  boatman  to  take  him  up  the  Tapajos.  He  did  not  invite 
Brother  Dennis  to  accompany  him;  but  a  second  canoe  followed  the 
Doctor's  as  it  turned  into  the  Tapajos. 


122 


■JUREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  11/  SOUTH   AMERICA. 


CHAPTER    IX. 


A    JAGUAR    HUNT. 

THEY  had  not  really  intended  to 
the  jaguar.  The  great  cat  re- 
es  his  cousin  the  Bengal  tiger 
too  strongly  for  the  girls  to 
have  any  longing  for  his  ac- 
quaintance. But  the  Senhor 
had  proposed  that  they 
should  go  into  the  forest  lor 
a  two  days'  hunt,  hoping  to 
brinir  back  a  fine  collection 
of  birds. 

Beyond     his     cane-fields 
there    Avas    an    old    wagon- 
track  leading  like   a  tunnel 
into  the  heart  of  the  wood. 
It  was  the  trail  of  a  party 
of  surveyors.     The  Indians 
kA   the  fazenda   had  kept  it 
prcttv  clear  of  under-brush 
on  their  hunting  expeditions, 
fnuling  it  the  easiest  way  of 
penetrating  the  forest.   They 
reported  a  spring  and  a  good 
place  for  camping  at  a  distance  of  twenty  miles,  and  the  Senhor  gave 
the  order  to  harness  four  mules  to  a  lumbering  cart,  the  only  convey- 
.ance  on  the  premises. 


A  JAGUAR   HUNT. 


123 


^^  I  sliall  import  a  carriage  Ironi  the  States,"  he  inturms  Victoria, 
"when  my  sister  comes  to  keep  house  for  me."  lie  is  continually 
confiding  to  Victoria  his  plans  ot'  what  he  intends  to  do  when  his 
sister  comes,  and  asking  her  advice  about  everything.  lie  will  lav 
out  a  carriage-drive  here;  and  will  she  oblige  him  by  making  a  plan 
of  what  she  would  consider  a  model  country-house,  or  manor, — 
something  in  the  French  chateau  style,  and  more  extensive  than  a 
villa.  Women  should  be  the  architects,  for  houses  are  built  for 
them,  and  in  this  project  expense  is  not 
to  be  in  the  least  considered.  Victoria 
is  pleased  and  flattered,  and  enters  with 
lively  interest  into  the  scheme. 

The  Senhor,  with  his  guests  and  a 
half  dozen  servants,  among  whom  were 
Graciliano  and  Pedro,  started  on  their 
camping  excursion,  while  the  other  in- 
habitants of  the  plantation  gathered  to 
sec  them  ofJ',  staring  adults  as  well  as 
children,  in  wide-eyed  admiration  and 
simple  wonder. 

Fortune  was  certainly  on  the  Sen- 
hor's  side,  for  he  could  not  have  man- 
iiged  his  departure  more  opportunely 
had  he  known  that  an  hour  later  the 
Doctor's  canoe  would  have  reached  the  sawmill.  He  was  in  high 
spirits,  and  chatted  of  the  game  that  they  would  bring  back, —  plenty 
of  toothsome  pacas,  small  animals  resembling  rabbits,  —  and  even 
promised  the  girls  a  shot  at  the  red  deer  which  sometimes  come 
down  to  the  forest  spring  to  drink.  Pedro  said  the  forest  was  alive 
with  howling  monkeys,  and  that  he  had  found  there  magnificent  h^-a- 
cinthine  macaws.  The  Professor  took  his  butterfiv-net,  and  at  last 
iill  were  ready;  the  girls  and  the  Professor  rode  on  the  top  of  the  cart, 


SEEING    THEM    OFF 


124 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


W\M 


f 


I'EDKO. 


the  Senhor  guided  liis  liard-nioullied  foiir-in-liand  with  Vietoria  at  liis 
side  on  tlie   iiigli  spriiiLT  seat.      Two  of  the   men  went  on  in  advanee 

with  axes  to  clear  the  way  of  cipos,  or  long, 
looping  vines,  and  the  other  four  trudged 
beside  them  an  imposing  body-guard,  with 
their  rifles  over  their  shoulders.  The  girls 
had  been  practising  target-shooting  for  sev- 
eral days  past  with  pistols.  It  was  no  new 
accomplishment  to  Victoria,  and  she  was 
the  most  expert.  They  left  the  bright  and 
open  canetield,  and  entered  the  mysterious 
forest,  and  all  conversation  ceased  for  the 
moment.  The  dusk  was  very  impressive,  only  here  and  there  flick- 
ering spots  of  light  broke  through  the 
leafy  canopy  of  green.  There  was  not 
much  foliage  about  them,  but  every- 
where colonnades 
of    aspiring     tree-  .-^ 

trunks,  slender  or 
great, all  struggling 
upward  to  the  light. 
Some  of  them  were 
columnar  palms, 
some  were  the 
white  chestnuts,  or 
Brazil  nut  trees. 
11  ere  were  trees 
with  huge,  but- 
tressed trunks,  and 
others  with  stilt- 
like roots  while  the 
long,  straight  air-roots  of  the   aroideae    swayed    like    ropes   from   the 


THE    PROFESSOR    AT    WORK. 


A   OlANT    or    Tllli;   I'OREST. 


A  JAGUAR  lIUiXT.  I  27 

rigging  of  a  ship.  The  cipos  and  lianas  rollicked  over  all,  tangling 
and  knotting  everything  in  their  snake-like  eonvolutions.  Indeed,  it 
Avas  dillieult  to  tell  them  iVoni  snakes.  Maud  poked  at  one  twisted 
creeper  that  was  striped  curioiisl\-,  and  saw  it  slip  away  I'roni  belnre 
her  eyes,  —  it  was  a  serpent,  and  a  large  one.  So  they  bounced  and 
rattled  on,  seeing  very  little  in  the  way  of  life,  and  struck  by  the 
silence  of  the  forest;  not  a  note  of  a  bird  or  the  cry  of  a  wild  ani- 
mal to  be  heard.  But  Graciliano  stooped  and  carefull}'  examined 
the  tracks  of  some  creature  on  the  swampy  ground.  ^' OncaV 
(  jaguars  rj    Philomena  cried  in(}uiringly. 

Graciliano  was  of  the  opinion  that  it  was  only  a  great  ant-eater. 
"Good!''  ejaculated  the  Professor;  ^*  he  is  an  excellent  pioneer,  and 
will  clear  the  way  for  us.'' 

And  then  the  conversation  took  a  zoological  turn,  and  they  talked  of 
animals  and  chiefly  of  dangerous  ones.  The  Senhor  told  of  an  old 
boa-constrictor  and  her  brood  which  he  found  living  under  the  tiles 
of  his  house.  The  former  owner  would  not  dislodge  him,  as  they 
kept  the  premises  free  from  bats. 

^' I  believe  the  true  reason  that  he  did  not  hunt  them  out,"  said  the 
Senhor,  "  was  because  he  was  too  lazy.  It  needed  a  little  Yankee 
enterprise  and  that  I  brought." 

"But  you  are  not  a  Yankee,"  Maud  replied  dryly. 

"Certainly  not,  but  I  brought  back  from  the  States  a  good  many 
Yankee  inventions,  and  I  pride  myself  that  energy  is  one  of  them." 
The  Senhor  said  this  unconcernedly  enough,  but  he  bit  his  lip  before 
he  spoke  and  regarded  Maud  stealthily  from  the  corner  of  his  eye, 
as  though  calculating  the  effect  ol'the  remark  upon  her.  That  young- 
lady  was  looking  studiously  at  Victoria,  but  she  made  her  next 
remark  with  the  explosiveness  of  a  pistol-shot. 

"Senhor  Silva,  you  are  not  in  the  least  like  a  Brazilian." 

"Indeed!  with  what  Brazilian  have  you  done  me  the  honor  to 
compare  me  ? " 


128  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  L\  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

Maud  hesitated;  she  was  not  acquainted  \\\\\\  a  single  native  of 
Brazil,  and  she  saw  lier  mistake.  "  I  ought  to  liave  said  that  you  are 
very  like  a  Yankee." 

'^We  are  all  sons  and  daughters  of  Adam,  and  not  so  very  unlike 
after  all." 

"The  studv  of  ethnology  is  a  very  interesting  one,"  began  the 
Professor.  But  he  was  not  allowed  to  continue  his  remarks,  for  Vic- 
toria wanted  to  know  if  really  any  jaguars  had  been  seen  near  the 
fazenda  lateh-.  Graciliano  was  questioned,  and  replied  that  he  had 
seen  one  fishing  on  the  Tapajos  the  day  before  their  excursion. 

Victoria  laughed  derisively.  '^  That  is  quite  equal  to  his  stories  of 
the  dolphin,"  she  said;  "does  he  want  us  to  believe  that  the  jaguars 
go  out  in  canoes,  with  firebrands  and  tridents,  to  spear  fish?'' 

"No,"  replied  the  Senhor.  "But  Graciliano  is  really  in  earnest, 
and  I  think  correct  in  his  statement.  The  jaguar  will  lie  close  to  the 
water  on  some  overhanging  branch,  and  gently  lash  the  surface  with 
his  tail.  .  The  splash  sounds  like  the  fall  of  ripe  fruit,  and  a  fish  fre- 
quently rises  and  is  caught  by  the  jaguar's  sharp  claws." 

"What  a  cunning  creature  he  must  be,"  said  Delight.  "I  w^onder 
if  Philomena  cannot  tell  us  some  Indian  stories  about  him.  She 
entertained  us  for  a  long  time  last  evening  with  tales  that  were  very 
much  like  Uncle  Remus's  stories  of  Brer  Fox  and  Brer  Rabbit." 

"Philomena  must  be  induced  to  favor  us,"  Victoria  said,  "for  my 
knowledge  of  jaguar  literature  is  remarkably  limited,  it  is  entirely  con- 
lined  in  fact  to  the  touching  ballad  of  the  Old  Woman  of  Nicaragua." 

"What  is  that?''  the  Senhor  asked. 

"  Have  you  never  heard  ?  — 

'  There  was  an  old  woman  of  Nicaragua 
Whose  back  hair  was  clawed  off  by  a  jaguar. 
The  old  woman  said,  Ah  ! 
The  jaguar  said,  Bah  ! 
What  a  false,  artificial  old  hag  )ou  are  !  '  " 


.-/  JAGUAR  HUXT. 


131 


All  hiiiuhcti,  and  Philomcna,  uii  being  questioned,  replied  that  the 
Indians  called  the  jaguar  the  son  of  Jurupary,  —  child  oT  the  devil, 
lie  was  very  fierce  and  strong,  but  the  cotia  sometimes  outwitted 
him. 

'^  Mr.  Herbert  Smith  brought  back  a  number  of  those  South 
American  Iblk-lore  stories,"  said  the  Professor.  "  I  remember  he 
reports  the  Indian  explanation  of  how  the  tortoise  came  by  his  shell." 

"  Let  Philomena  tell  it,"  Delight  begged. 

"The  tortoise  at  tirst  had  no  shell,"  said  Philomena,  ""but  a  jaguar 
bit  into  its  back  so  tiercely  that  its  teeth  locked  together,  and  it 
could  not  get  them  apart.  Then  the  jaguar  died  and  the  tortoise 
running  through  the  forest  tore  its  head  from  its  body.  Finally 
nothing  remained  but  the  skull  bleached  by  the  weather,  and  the 
tortoise  wears  the  jaguar's  skull  on  its  back  to  this  day." 

"That  is  very  interesting,"  said  Victoria,  "please  tell  us  some 
more." 

'■  The  cotia,"  said  Philomena,  "  is  a  ver}-  wnse  and  also  a  very 
mischievous  little  animal.  One  day  the  jaguar  said  to  him,  ■  O  Cotia, 
I  am  going  to  marry  the  King  Deer's  daughter.'  Then  the  cotia 
went  to  the  deer  and  said,  'O  King  Deer,  the  jaguar,  for  all  he  is  so 
big,  is  a  coward  and  I  can  ride  him."  'Do  so,'  said  the  deer,  'and 
I  will  break  my  word  to  him,  and  you  shall  marrv  m\-  dauo-hter.' 
Then  the  cotia  waited  at  a  little  distance  from  the  deer's  fazenda  for 
the  coming  of  the  jaguar.  When  he  came,  the  cotia  said,  in  a  very 
weak  voice,  '  I  am  ill;  carry  me  home,  good,  kind  jaguar.'  And  the 
jaguar  took  pity  on  him,  and  allowed  him  to  mount  upon  his  back. 
But  when  they  reached  tlie  King  Deer's  fazenda  the  cotia  sat  up  ^•ery 
straight,  and  dug  his  heels  into  the  jaguar's  ribs,  and  began  to  lash 
him  with  a  cipo  which  he  held  in  his  paw.  Then  the  jaguar  was 
angry,  and  rushed  by  very  fast,  trying  to  throw  the  cotia  off,  and  the 
cotia  caught  hold  of  a  hanging  vine  and  escaped  among  the  branches 
of  the   tree.      When   the  jaguar   lound   how^   he    had   been   fooled,   he 


132 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


determined  to  kill  the  cotia.  Now  there  was  only  one  spring  in  the 
Ibrest,  and  he  knew  il"  he  lay  in  wait  here  the  eotia  must  eome, 
sooner  or  later,  to  drink.  Now  the  cotia  knew  that  the  jaguar  was  lying 
in  wait  lor  him  at  the  spring,  and  kept  away  until  he  became  very 
thirstw  Then  he  saw  an  old  woman  going  through  the  forest  with  a 
jar  on  her  head,  lie  ran  before  her  and  lay  in  her  path,  feigning  to 
be  dead.  She  pushed  him  out  of  the  way  with  her  foot,  saying,  ^One 
dead    eotia  is   not  worth    picking   up.'       The    cotia   waited   until  the 


woman  had  gone  on,  then  he  got  up,  ran  on  ahead,  and  again  feigned 
himself  dead.  The  woman  then  said,  ^  Even  two  dead  cotias  are  not 
worth  picking  up.'  The  cotia  repeated  tlie  trick  a  third  time  and 
the  woman  now  said,  'One  dead  cotia  is  not  worth  picking  up, 
neither  are  two,  but  three  are.  I  will  go  back  for  the  other  two  and 
leave  this  one  beside  my  jar  until  I  return."  As  soon  as  she  was  out 
oi  sight  the  cotia  overturned  the  jar,  but  to  his  disappointment  found 
that  it  contained  molasses  instead  of  water.  However,  he  determined 
to  make  the  best  of  it,  and  rolled  himself  first  in  the  molasses,  and 
then  in  a  bed  of  dried  leaves.     This  he  repeated  several   times,  until 


A  JAGUAR  HUNT.  1 33 

his  appearance  was  quite  cliangcd.  lie  then  went  boldly  to  the 
spring.  The  jaguar  challenged  him  crying  out  'Whom  have  we 
here?'  'I  am  the  dried-leaves  animal,' the  cotia  replied,  and  the 
jaguar  allowed  him  to  drink  and  go  away. 

"Afterward,  when  he  heard  that  he  had  been  tricked  again,  the 
jaguar  retired  to  his  i\^\\  and  gave  out  that  he  was  dead.  '  The  cotia 
will  come  to  look  at  my  body,'  he  thought.  All  the  beasts  of  the 
forest  collected  around  the  mouth  of  the  den  and  looked  in.  '  He  is 
really  dead,'  they  said.  The  cotia  came  last  of  all.  '  Has  he 
(groaned  three  times?' he  asked.  ""When  my  grandmother  died  she 
groaned  three  times.' 

'■  The  jaguar,  hearing  this,  groaned  three  times.  The  cotia  laughed 
and  ran  away,  saying,  '  Dead  jaguars  do  not  groan.' " 

Philomena  had  finished  her  recital  for  that  time,  but  after  this  it 
was  never  difficult  to  coax  her  to  a  story,  and  many  and  curious  were 
the  fables  which  she  told.  Better  than  yEsop,  the  girls  thought,  for 
there  was  never  a  ILcc  fabula  docet  at  the  end.  Some  way,  to 
iVIaud's  mind,  the  fable  had  its  application  after  all.  This  wily 
handsome  Senhor  was  the  jaguar.  Victoria,  slender  and  graceful, 
was  the  fawn,  the  King  Deer's  daughter.  Maud  was  only  an  insig- 
nificant member  of  the  company  as  yet,  but  might  she  not  outwit  her 
jaguar  as  cleverly  as  the  cotia  had  done? 

They  picnicked  at  noon  and  soon  after  reached  their  camping 
ground.  A  tent  was  pitched  with  six  hammocks  radiating  from  the 
central  pole,  to  serve  as  dormitory  for  Mrs.  Holmes,  the  girls,  and 
their  maid.  The  camp-fire  was  built  in  front  of  this  tent,  and, 
opposite,  the  hammocks  of  the  men  were  hung  Irom  tree  to  tree. 
Behind  the  girls'  tent  the  ground  sloped  to  the  spring,  and  all  around 
their  little  clearing  the  forest  shut  them  in  with  its  almost  impassable 
palisade.  Toward  night  the  howling  of  the  monkeys  began;  an  in- 
describably doleful  sound.  The  smoke  of  the  camp-fire  drove  awa}' 
the   mosquitoes,  and  they  sat   late  about  it,  listening  to  and  telling 


134 


THREE    WISSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


Stories.  "  Let  us  hiivc  a  song  before  we  retire,''  said  the  Professor, 
and  the  Senhor  brought  out  a  guitar,  and  sang  to  a  little  jingling 
accompaniment  an  Indian  song,  whose  translation  Mr.  Herbert  Smith 
also  gives  in  his  "Brazil,  the  Amazons,  and  the  Coast." 

"  I  swung  in  my  drowsy  hammock, 
And  wooed  the  forest  boughs, 
But  they  answered  low  '  There  's  pain  and  woe 
In  the  lovers'  foolish  vows.' 

"  Little  fish  in  the  deep,  dark  pool. 
Fickle  sand  of  the  sea, 
How  can  I  ever  love  you  alone, 
Since  you  will  not  alone  love  me  ? 

"  What  if  I  drift  away,  away, 
Alone  on  the  ocean  swell  ; 
What  if  I  die  with  no  one  nigh 
Of  the  friends  wlio  love  mc  well  ? 

"  Yet  I  have  the  sun  for  my  lover  true, 
\The  moon  for  my  lady  bright,  — 
The  sun  to  walk  with  alone  all  day, 
The  moon  in  the  silent  night." 

After  retiring,  ]\Iaud  lay  awake  a  long  time  trying  to  analyze  her 
distrust  for  the  Senhor.  Ever3'one  else  seemed  fascinated  with  him, 
why  should  she  perversely  refuse  her  good  opinion.  In  the  first 
place,  he  was  fastidious,  a  creature  almost 

"  Too  fine  and  good 
I'^or  human  nature's  daily  food." 

He  had  a  habit  of  fault-finding  with  his  servants,  which  seemed  to 
indicate  a  petty,  dictatorial   nature,  and  to  hint   that  his  obsequious 


A    J I  ALT  IN   Tlin   KOKKST. 


A  J.IGL'AR  JIUXT.  T37 

politeness  was  only  a  thin  veneer  over  a  great  selfishness.  Ah  I  there 
was  the  word.  She  had  found  the  keynote  of  his  eharacter,  —  the 
Senhor  was  supremely  and  unserupulousl}'  selfish.  She  felt  that  he 
would  hesitate  at  almost  no  step  which  would  advance  his  personal 
comfort  or  anibiLion.  This  was  told  b}-  a  hundred  little  things,  by  a 
word  let  drop  now  and  then,  by  a  mere  shrug  of  the  shoulders,  or  a 
thoughtless  act.  The  man  was  bound  up  in  self  If  he  had  treated 
them  kindly  Maud  was  sure  it  was  only  because  he  had  some  interest 
at  stake,  and  that  interest  was  evidenth'  Victoria.  "  If  he  really 
loved  her,"  Maud  thought,  "that  would  be  something  to  respect  him 
lor;  but  I  do  not  believe  he  is  capable  of  true  love.  If  a  jaguar 
were  to  spring  at  her  he  would  run  away,  and  leave  her  to  her  fate." 

At  this  point  in  Maud's  reverie  Victoria  arose,  and,  parting  the  tent 
curtains,  looked  out.  She  returned  a  moment  later,  and,  seeing  that 
Maud  was  awake,  spoke.  "It  is  a  glorious  moonlight  night,  and  it's 
of  no  use  trying,  I  cannot  sleep.  The  Senhor  is  pacing  up  and  down 
outside,  iruarding  our  tent.     Is  it  not  romantic?  '' 

"Ver}',''  replied  r^Iaud  dryly,  "  probably  the  mosquitoes  will  not 
let  him  sleep.'' 

^' I  am  desperately  thirsty,  where  is  the  water-cooler.''" 

^*By  the  tent-pole." 

Victoria  lifted  it  to  her  lips  and  was  about  to  drink  when  she 
noticed  some  one  had  left  it  open,  and  a  lizard  had  crept  inside.  She 
emptied  the  urn  with  an  expression  of  disgust.  '^  Never  mind,"  she 
added,  "  it  is  only  a  step  to  the  spring,  and  I  must  have  some  water." 

"Victoria,"  Maud  called  after  her,  ^' you  surely  are  not  going  down 
there  alone,"'  but  the  fearless  girl  had  gone.  The  Senhor,  hearing  the 
voices,  rapped  at  the  tent  and  asked  if  all  was  right. 

''Victoria  has  just  gone  to  the  spring,"  Maud  replied.  "I  wish 
you  would  look  after  her,"  and  the  Senhor  caught  his  gun  and 
followed  her  in  a  twinkling.  The  spring  was  near,  and  when  Vic- 
toria stepped  from  the    tent   she   saw   it  shining    before    her    in    the 


138 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


moonlight  like  a  siKcr  minor.  The  patli  was  clearly  outlined,  and 
\et  an  undefined  dread  made  her  hesitate  an  instant:  it  was  only 
an  instant,  however,  and  she  then  ran  nimbi}'  down  the  little  terrace 
and   stooped  to  fill   her  earthen  water-cooler.     Just  then  there  was  a 

crackling  of  branch- 
es, and,  raising  her 
head,  she  saw  two 
fierv  eves  (rlowerins: 
at  her  from  across  the 
spring,  and  an  un- 
defined form  crouch- 
ing in  the  darkness. 
She  was  a  brave  girl 
aiid  she  did  not  real- 
ize her  peril.  '*"  It  is 
some  timid  creature 
of  the  woods,"  she 
thought,  and  she 
,  -^;  ^  j  waved  the  urn  in 
fti  ^  her  hand,  stamped 
her  loot,  and  cried, 
^'Shoo!  "  The  crea- 
ture responded  by 
a  savage  growl,  and 
she  could  see  it  lash- 
ing its  tail  from  side 
to  side.  Then  the  thought  came  to  her  that  this  was  a  jaguar,  and 
she  felt  herself  growing  faint  w^ith  fright,  but  a  steady  voice  behind 
her  said,  *' Don't  move"  —  a  ringing  shot  pealed  through  the  air  from 
just  over  her  shoulder,  and,  with  a  bound  such  as  a  cat  will  give, 
the  jaguar  leaped  into  the  air,  •  and  fell  dead  at  her  feet.  She  w^as 
splashed  with  water,  for  the   animal    liad   fallen  partly  into  the  spring, 


.  iUJl     i'EALED    TIIROLOU    J  HE    AIR." 


A  JAGUAR  HUNT.  1 39 

and  tlic  cold  dasli  in  her  lace  helped  to  restore  her,  and  enabled  her 
to  say  with  self  possession,  though  her  face  was  still  very  white, — 
"You  have  saved  my  life;   I  thank  you/' 

*^  You  are  welcome,"  replied  the  Senhor,  with  lips  which  trembled; 
"  but  never  do  such  a  foolish  thing  again.  Your  life  is  too  precious 
to  me;  you  have  no  right  to  peril  it." 

"I  will  not,"  Victoria  replied,  quite  humbly,  and  by  this  time  the 
whole  camp  was  with  them,  the  men  with  their  guns  and  firebrands, 
the  girls  standing  in  the  looped-back  tent,  peering  anxiously  into  the 
darkness.  The  Senhor  handed  Victoria  back  to  them,  and  the  men 
brought  the  jaguar  around  to  the  tire,  but  not  until  the}-  had  tired 
several  shots  into  his  body.  lie  was  a  huge  creature,  with  a  tawny 
skin  marked  with  black  ''roses,"  —  circles  of  curved  lines  with  a  dot 
in  the  centre.  Graciliano  declared  that  it  was  the  ver}'  creature 
whom  he  had  seen  tishing,  and  which  had  carried  away  a  calf  from 
the  cattle  fazenda  of  their  neighbor  who  supplied  Santarem  with 
milk.  The  Senhor  ordered  the  men  to  skin  the  creature  carefullv, 
as  he  wished  a  rug  made  of  it  for  the  Senhorita. 

"I  wronged  him  after  all,"  thought  Maud;  "w^hatever  his  fiults 
may  be,  he  is  not  a  coward."* 

Victoria,  now  that  the  excitement  was  over,  was  quite  unstrung. 
She  sat  in  Delight's  hammock,  with  her  arms  around  her  friend's 
neck,  weeping  Irom  sheer  nervousness.  Suddenly  her  weeping 
changed  to  hysterical  laughter. 

"Control  yourself,  you  absurd  child,"  Maud  exclaimed,  "  or  they 
will  all  think  you  have  gone  craz}'."  But  Victoria  could  not  stop 
for  several  minutes. 

"O  Maud,"  she  said  at  length,  ''it  was  dreadful,  and  }et  it  had  its 
grotesque  side,  too.  He  was  as  mad  at  me  as  he  could  be,  and  he 
scolded  me  like  a  schoolmaster,  as  he  had  a  perfect  right,  for  of 
course,  it  was  a  reckless  thing  to  do;  but,  O  girls!  he  did  look  so 
ridiculous, —  his  eyes  popping  out  of  his   head,  his  face  as  white  as 


T40  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH   AMERICA. 

clialk,  aiul  liis  wii:  all  on  unc  side,  fur  all  the  world  like  the  old 
woman  ol"  NicaraL;"ua."" 

"His  wii,'!"   exclaimed  both  of  the  girls  in  unison. 

"  Yes,  dears,  he  wears  a  wig.  What  a  fraud  he  is!  He  must  be 
as  old  as  the  Professor.  It  was  all  I  could  do  to  forbear  exclaiming, 
'  What  a  false,  artificial  old  hag  you  are! '  " 


VICTORIA    REGIA. 


141 


CHAPTER   X. 


VICTORIA   KEGIA. 

ILLING  the  jaguar  was  glory  and  adventure 
enough,  and  tlie  party  returned  to  tlie  fazenda 
early  the  next  day,  contenting  themselves  with 
--^f  only  a  few  birds  and  a  monkey  or  two.  Their 
return  was  hastened  by  the  Professor's  not  feel- 
ing quite  well. 

"  I  fear,"  said  the   Senhor,  "  that  he  is  going 
to   have  a  touch  of  the  ague.     Camping  out  is 
not  just  the  thnig  for  a  man  of  his  age." 

Victoria  threw  an  arch  glance  at  Delight  and  bit  her  lip.  But 
Delight  hardly  noticed  it,  she  was  really  anxious  about  her  father, 
and  Mrs.  Holmes  was  equally  impatient  to  return  to  the  fazenda.  *"  If 
that  obliging  Dr.  Stillman  were  only  within  call,"  she  said,  and  mean- 
time Dr.  Stillman  was  not  only  quite  within  reach  if  the}'  had  but 
known  it,  but  was  impatiently  waiting  some  communication  from 
them  at  Santarem.  On  the  morning  of  his  visit  at  the  fazenda,  dis- 
appointed by  the  information  that  his  friends  had  left,  no  one  knew 
exactly  in  what  direction,  for  a  stay  of  uncertain  duration,  he  had 
wandered  irresolutely  about  the  place,  and  had  finally  accepted  tlie 
steward's  invitation  to  step  into  the  Senhor's  office  and  leave  a 
written  message.  Under  the  pressure  of  the  sudden  opportunity  he 
wrote  the  letter  which  he  had  so  often  written  and  destroyed  on  his 
voyage  up  the  river.  It  was  humble  enough  to  have  pleased  even 
Victoria's  haughty  disposition.  He  craved  her  forgiveness  for  any 
possible    offence,  and  he  told  her  of  his    love  in  manly  terms    that 


142 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH   AMERICA. 


would  have  commanded  her  respect  had  the  letter  ever  met  her 
eye.  "I  was  too  hasty  at  Breves,''  he  said,  '^  and  I  will  wait  at  San- 
tarem  for  your  answer.'" 

As  he  stepped  into  his  canoe  he  noticed  a  second  one  moored  be- 
side it,  but  he  did  not  see  the  lynx  face  of  Brother  Dennis  watching 
him  from  bcliind  a  pile  of  lumber.  As  soon  as  the  Doctor  was  well 
out  of  sight,  Brother  Dennis  entered  the  Senhor's  office  and  saw  the 
letter  addressed  to  Victoria  lying  upon  the  desk.  He  unscrupu- 
lously opened  the  same.  As  he  perused  the  pages  the  doubt  as  to 
his  own  sagacity  gradually  deepened.  If  the  Doctor  were  really  a 
defaulter,  loaded  with  immense  wealth,  he  would  not  have  told  this 
aristocratic  heiress  that  in  point  of  worldly  possessions  he  was  im- 
measurably her  inferior;  that  he  had  nothing  but  his  profession,  and 
an  opening  promised  him  in  one  of  the  New  York  hospitals.  His 
references  to  his  family,  and  indeed  the  whole  tone  of  his  letter,  were 
proofs  positive  of  his  innocence.  "  I  am  oft'  the  track,"  muttered  Mr. 
Jenkins,  ^' sold  for  once,  and  the  proceeds  uncollectible."  lie  care- 
I'ully  resealed  the  letter  so  that  it  should  show  no  trace  of  having 
been  tampered  with,  and  embarked  for  Santarem,  his  forehead  seamed 
with  wrinkles  which  betokened  deep  thought. 

^' Since  Doctor  Stillman  is  not  the  man,"  he  said  to  himself,  "I 
must  investigate  that  Senhor  Silva.  But  the  puzzle  is  where  to  find 
him."  It  never  occurred  to  the  astute  Mr.  Jenkins  that  Senhor  Pala- 
cios,  whose  estate  he  had  just  visited,  could  be  the  man  he  sought. 
^'Ile  told  the  young  ladies  that  he  was  going  up  the  river,  and  he  is 
pretty  likely  to  turn  up  somewhere  in  their  path.  My  best  plan  will 
be  to  follow  them."  Brother  Dennis  accordingly  also  established 
himself  at  Santarem,  waiting  the  departure  of  the  Professor  and 
his  party. 

On  his  return  from  the  woods  the  Senhor  naturally  looked  over  the 
few  letters  which  had  arrived  during  his  absence.  The  one  addressed 
to  Victoria  caught  his  eye,  and  a  second  time  it  was  opened  and  read 


VICTORIA   REGIA. 


143 


by  other  eyes  than  those  for  whom  it  was  intended.     But  the  Senhor, 

having  read  and  disapproved  of  tlie  contents,  did  not  reseal  the  letter 

as  Mr.  Jenkins  liad  done.      lie  carefidly  destro3-ed  it  in  the  same  way 

in  whicli  he  had  served  Maud's  letter  to  her  Lisbon  friend.      lie  did 

e\en   more.       He    answered   the    letter.       lie   judged    correctly  t'lat 

the  Doctor  was  not  familiar 

with  Victoria's  hand  and  he 

could  safely  venture  so  far. 

He  phrased  the  letter  curtly 

and  formally,  and  could  not 

forbear    adding    a  venomed 

allusion  to  his  poverty  which 

Victoria  herself  could  never 

have     made.        This     letter 

accomplished     its     mission. 

The  Doctor   accepted  it  as 

final,    and    embarked    on    a 

boat  going  up  the  river,  not 

that  he  cared  in  the  least  in 

what  direction  he  went,  but 

because  it  was  the  first  boat 

w^hich    happened    to    touch 

Santarem.      Brother  Dennis 

did  not  accompan}'  him,  he 

had  other  fish  to  fry. 

Toasting,  rubbing,  and  dosing  under  Mrs.  Holmes's  hands  soon  re- 
stored the  Professor,  and  in  a  day  or  two  the  old  gentleman  was  as  lively 
as  ever,  and  possessed  with  his  old  restlessness  to  be  off  and  away  on 
his  expedition.  The  Senhor  and  he  had  long  arguments  as  to  the 
comparative  merits  of  the  upper  Tapajos  and  the  Madeira.  The 
Professor  was  interested  in  the  Madeira  and  INIamorc  Railroad,  which 
was  intended  to  open  up  Bolivia  to  commerce,  by  circling  the  rapids 


Ar--^^- 


THE  SEXHOR  READS  AND  DISAPPROVES. 


I^^  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

and  lalls  wliich  lb':  two  luindrcd  and  thirty  miles  obstruct  navigation 
•on  the  Madeira.  He  wished  to  go  over  this  ground  careiulh',  expect- 
ing to  find  many  new  fossils,  and  opportunity  to  study  geologic  confor- 
mation in  the  cuts  made  by  the  railroad,  and  to  push  on  to  the  old 
mission  of  Exaltacion  in  Bolivia,  from  whence  it  was  his  ambitious 
project  to  circle  Lake  Titicaca,  then  Cu/co,  with  a  study  of  the  Incas, 
and  across  the  Andes  to  the  coast,  which  they  would  follow  up  to 
Panama  in   easy  stages  on  the   Pacific  Mail  steamers. 

The  Senhor  objected  that  this  trip  would  be  too  adventurous  and 
fatiguing  for  the  ladies,  and  even  for  the  Professor  himself,  and  urged 
a  substitution  of  the  thorough  exploration  of  the  Tapajos  and  its 
tributaries,  for  which  purpose  he  ofiered  his  little  steamer,  which 
would  soon  arrive  from  its  wooding  expedition.  "The  Tapajos,"  he 
said,  "leads  to  the  INIatto  Grosso  and  the  diamond  district.  At  Itai- 
tuba  we  can  leave  the  steamer  and  take  to  canoes  as  far  as  Diaman- 
tina.  I  will  take  my  own  canoes  and  paddlers  with  me,  so  that  we 
will  not  have  to  depend  on  obtaining  chance  labor.  From  Diaman- 
tina  it  will  be  eas}'  to  make  a  portage  to  the  Paraguay,  which  we  can 
descend  in  our  canoes  until  1  can  place  3-ou  on  board  some  good 
steamer  bound  down  the  La  Plata  to  Monte  Video,  from  which  point 
you  can  readily  obtain  passage  for  New  York." 

"Your  plan  is  a  tempting  one,  my  dear  Senhor,"  replied  the  Pro- 
fessor, "but  I  cannot  allow  you  to  be  at  so  much  trouble  and  expense 
on  our  behalf" 

"It  is  entirely  on  my  own  behalf,"  the  Senhor  replied.  "I  con- 
template making  just  such  a  trip  for  the  furtherance  of  my  own  busi- 
ness. I  trust  you  will  allow  me  to  carry  out  a  plan  I  have  already 
formed,  and  which  I  only  hope  will  prove  as  advantageous  to  you  as 
I  am  sure  it  will  be  for  me." 

Mrs.  Holmes,  always  careful  of  the  Professor's  comfort,  reminded 
her  husband  that  this  journey  would  contain  fewer  risks,  while  it 
v.-ould  take  them  over  a  much  wider  extent  of  country  than  the  one 


VICTORIA    REG  I  A. 


145 


which  lie  had  marked  out  for  himself,  and  would  furnish  as  likeh'  a 
iield  for  marine  iossils  as  the  Madeira. 

"You  must  put  it  to  vote,"  said  the  Senhor,  with  easy  contidence; 
"but  first,  allow  me  t(^  bribe  the  voters.  I  promise  a  handsome  soli- 
taire from  the  diamond  district  to  every  one  who  favors  my  plan. 
Come,  who  is  for  the  Madeira,  now,  with  its  fevers  and  hardships.''" 

Maud  raised  her  hand  with  quiet  determination,  and  the  Professor, 
protesting  his  thanks,  still  persisted  in  his  former  determination. 

Mrs.  Holmes  and  Delight  voted  for  accepting  the  Scnhor's  ofler, 
while  Victoria  declined  to  express  a  preference. 

"Will  you  not  give  the  decisive  vote,  Miss  Delavan?"  the  Senhor 
pleaded;  but  Victoria  shook  her  head  in  demure  perverseness. 

"  It  is  just  a  tie  as  it  stands,"  said  the  Senhor  ga^'ly,  "and  of  course 
that  means  that  you  do  not  go  awa}'  at  all.  You  must  stay  here  until 
you  can  come  to  an  unanimous  decision,  and  w^ith  that  arrangement 
I  am  more  than  satisfied.  To-morrow  we  will  take  to  the  canoes  and 
follow  up  an  igaripe  to  a  lake  that  Graciliano  tells  me  of,  where  grow 
some  remarkably  line  specimens  of  that  queen  of  water-lilies,  the 
Victoria  Regia." 

This  excursion  proved  to  be  the  climax  of  their  visit.  All  their 
other  experiences  seemed  onl}-  to  lead  up  to  it.  The  part}''  set  out 
in  small  canoes,  threading  the  igaripes  (little  lakes  and  navigable 
marshes),  over  which  the  palms,  fig-trees,  tree  ferns,  bananas,  and 
other  tropical  foliage,  matted  their  green  canopies,  and  "lithe  lianas 
starred  with  fiowers,  hung  like  strung  jewels."  There  were  occa- 
sional portages,  where  there  was  hard  pushing  and  tugging  for  the 
Indians  to  transfer  the  boats  from  one  canoe  path  to  another,  and 
where  the  girls  were  carried  in  hammocks  across  the  marshy  ground 
by  two  sturd}'  Indian  bearers.  "  I  feel  like  a  Hindoo  princess  in  my 
sedan  chair,"  Victoria  announced  gayly  to  the  Professor,  who  passed 
her  mounted  pick-a-back  on  Graciliano's  bravyny  shoulders,  the  short 
legs  of  the  Indian  sinking  to  the  knees  in  the  mire,  and  the  longer 


146 


THREE    rASS.lA'   GIRLS  IN  SOUIH  AMERICA. 


ones  of  tlic  Professor,  with  all  their  twisting,  nearly  reaching  the 
surface  of  the  marsh.  The\'  l(jund  more  birds  on  this  excursion  than 
on  an}'  other,  —  gem-like  humming-birds,  with  throats  of  emerald 
and  topaz,  royal   rub}-  or  ameth\st;   a  macaw  swept  her  violet  train 

through  the  pillared  aisles  like  an 
empress  moving  through  some  ca- 
thedral to  her  coronation,  while  a 
flamingo  stalked  through  the  choir 
of  foliage,  a  cardinal  assisthig  at 
the  ceremony.  This  was  Victo- 
ria's fancy,  and  voted  a  pretty  one, 
while  iNIaud  compared  a  gorgeous 
parrot  to  a  courtier  of  the  time  of 
the  Grand  JMonarque.,  flashing  in 
embroidered  satin  and  brocade. 
Butterflies  of  every  color  fluttered 
about  them, — "swallow-tailed  pa- 
pilios,  green,  rose,  violet,  and 
black," — and  the  king  of  all  the 
butterfly  race,  the  magnificent  blue 
butterfly  ot"  the  Amazons.  It 
seemed  to  Victoria  that  she  was 
under  the  influence  of  a  spell,  and 
had  been  ever  since  her  arrival  at 
the  fazenda.  It  was  here  that  the 
full  fascination  of  this  tropical 
land  had  been  poured  upon  her  — 
all  its  Ir.xury  concentrated  and  its 
hardships  weeded  out.  Darwin  called  the  countr}'  "  one  great,  wild, 
untidy,  luxuriant  hot-house,''  and  it  seemed  to  her  that  this  conser- 
vatory gone  wild  was  the  work  of  a  powerful  enchanter,  and  might 
vanish  at  the  touch  of  his  majric  wand.     Without  doubt  the  Senhor 


/» 


THE   PROFESSOR   BOTANIZING. 


VICTORIA    REG  I  A. 


147 


was  an  enchanter,  and  whatever  may  have  been  his  power  over 
nature  about  her,  he  was  beginnino-  to  exercise  a  decided  influence 
over  Victoria  herself.  Victoria  realized  this,  and  it  troubled  her. 
When  the  decision  of 
the  itinerary  was  re- 
ferred to  her,  her  incli- 
nation spoke  at  once  in 
favor  of  the  Paraguay 
and  a  continuation  of 
this  pleasant  acquaint- 
ance, but  her  better 
judgment  also  spoke 
within  her,  —  "Better 
break  oti'  this  associa- 
tion before  it  becomes 
indispensable;"  and  she 
held  herself  and  the 
Senhor  in  grave  scru- 
tin}'.  Before  starting 
on  this  last  trip  she  had 
made  Maud  promise  to 
take  her  usual  place  in 
the  Senhor's  canoe,  as 
she  preferred  Delight's 
company,  and,  exclu- 
sive of  the  paddlers, 
there  would  be  only 
room  for  two  in  each  of  these  smaller  boats. 

Maud  had  taken  a  sort  of  grim  pleasure  in  the  request.  '^  How 
vexed  he  will  be,"  she  thought,  "and  how  I  shall  enjoy  his  vexation," 
but  when  the  party  started,  the  Senhor,  actuated  by  some  unaccount- 
able whim,  invited  her  of  his  own  accord  to  a  seat  in  his  canoe. 


TROPICAL    FOLIAGE. 


,48 


THKLh     r.l.bS.lA'   uIKL.S   1  .\    SOUTH  AMERICA. 


The  sirls  looked  at  eaeli  other  somewhat  blankl\-,  and  Maud  took 
lier  phice  elia^rined,  and  hall  inelined  to  reluse  the  invitation.  The 
Senhor's  boat  shot  ahead,  keeping  the  lead  all  the  way,  and  the 
Senhor  could  not  have  exerted  himself  more  to  please  Victoria  than 
he  did  to  gain  Maud's  good  will.  But  Maud,  to  use  her  own  ex- 
pression, was  "  grumpy,"  and  not  to  be  pleased.  Suddenly  the  Sen- 
hor looked  her  steadily  in  the  face,  and  asked, ''  What  have  I  done, 
Miss  Van  Vechten,  to  merit  your  ill  opinion?" 

Was  it  simple  frankness  or  the   height  of  effrontery?     To  Maud 


MACAWS. 


it  seemed  the  latter,  and  she  replied  stiffly  that  she  was  sorr}'  if  she 
had  been  so  deficient  in  good  breeding  as  to  treat  so  polite  a  host 
with  rudeness. 

*' Never  mind  politeness  for  the  moment,"'  the  Senhor  remarked 
blandly,  "let  us  be  perfectly  sincere.     You  distrust  me.     Why  is  it?" 

Maud  was  driven  into  a  corner  and  replied  recklessly,  "  Perhaps  it 
is  because  I  am  constructed  something  on  the  principle  of  the  arma- 
dillo. My  heart  is  prett}'  effectually  encased  in  armor,  and  it  would 
be  hard  for  anyone  to  touch  it." 

"  Is  it  true,    then,"   asked  the    Senhor^    "  as  I   have  read,    that    an 


VICTORIA    REGIA. 


149 


American  girl  of  the  Nortli  has  *  tlie  head  of  a  railvva}-  president  and 
the  heart  of  an  Esquimaux.''-' 

"  The  author  who  wrote  that  did  not  intend  to  compliment  us,  but 
if  it  is  true,  as  I  imagine,  that  Esquimaux  have  very  simple,  kindly 
hearts,  like  other  people,  and  railway  presidents  are  onl}'  shrewd  and 
h.onest  calculators  of  the  results  of  every  venture  before  they  allow 
themselves  to  be  interested  in  it,  then  I  believe  the  comparison  is  a 
just  one." 

"And  you  have  gone  through  a  very  exact  mathematical  calcu- 
lation and  have  decided  that  I  am  a  poor  investment." 

"  How  preposterous,"  Maud  exclaimed.  "  Of  what  possible  con- 
cern of  mine  can  your  character  be?" 

"  What  a  clear  head  you  have,"  the  Senhor  replied  with  a  sig- 
nificant smile,  "  and  how  well  you  put  things.  You  have  divined  tlie 
truth  that  I  am  deeply  interested  in  3'our  friend,  and,  though  you  have 
a  prejudice  against  me  yourself,  you  acknowledge  that  it  is  no  aflair 
of  yours,  and  your  innate  love  of  justice  will  not  allow  you  to  inter- 
fere to  influence  her.  You  have  really  a  most  extraordinary  char- 
acter and  one  that  commands  my  utmost  respect." 

Maud  bit  her  lip  with  vexation.  "  I  did  not  intend  to  promise  that 
I  would  not  interfere  if  I  saw  any  real  cause  for  doing  so,"  she  said. 

^'  But  until  you  have  something  against  me  more  tangible  than 
your  own  aversion  you  will  not  influence  her." 

*"*  I  think  you  overestimate  my  influence;  we  are  not  very  inti- 
mate. Delight  is  her  confidential  friend,  and  she  believes  in  3-ou 
most  thoroughl}'." 

^'  Thank  her  for  that.  I  wish  I  could  con\ince  3'ou  also  of  my 
integrity." 

"  I  wish  30U  would  not  talk  so,  Senhor  Palacios.  I  have  nothing 
against  3'ou,  and  you  may  rest  quite  easy  I  will  not  take  the  field  as 
your  antagonist    until  I  have." 

The   Senhor  bowed  ga}^}',  and   just  then    they  reached  their  last 


IsO 


THREE    VASSAR    GIRT.S  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


portage.  Maud  and  Victoria  found  themselves  side  by  side  for  a 
moment,  and  Maud  wliispered,  "  You  must  really  change  places  with 
me,  I  have  had  quite  enough  of  that  man." 

The  transfer  was  etiected  pleasantl}',  and  presently  the  boats  drifted 
into  the  placid  waters  of  the  lily  lake.  The  surface  was  spotted  with 
the  huge  lily  pads,  saucer-shaped,  a  rich  green  on  the  upper  surface, 
with  upturned  edges  showing  the  crimson  lining,  some  of  them  eight 
^^  feet    across.      The 

Indians  call  these 
enormous  saucers 
foi'iios^  or  braziers. 
Over  these  an- 
chored rafts  fleet- 
footed  little  Jaca- 
nas^  or  ramrod 
chickens,  a  bird 
akin  to  the  sand- 
piper, ran  races 
among  the  buds 
and  flowxrs.  And 
such  flowers!  lar- 
ger than  our  lar- 
gest sunflowers, — 
some  of  them 
eighteen  inches  across,  great  carven  blossoms,  a  bouquet  of  our  pond- 
lilies  in  a  single  flower.  Pure  and  white,  the  bud  opens  slowly,  the 
petals  separating  as  the  day  advances,  until,  in  its  majestic  loveliness, 
it  lias  attained  its  full  size.  This  is  the  lily  when  a  day  old;  on  the 
second  day  they  have  outli\"ed  their  snowy  innocence,  and  are  all  one 
blush  of  exquisite  pink,  with  a  centre  of  bright  yellow.  Three  days 
completes  the  life  of  the  Victoria  Regia,  and  on  the  third  the  queen 
lily  is  arrayed  in  royal  purple;   but  she  wears   it  with   a  world-weary 


"I    HAVE    HAD    QUITE   EXOUGII    OF    THAT    MAN.' 


VIC  1  OR /A    REG  I A . 


i;i 


languor,  as  though,  like  the  great  Sultan  Solomon,  she  had  tasted  of 
every  sweet  in  life  and  had  found  all  vanity.  Out  on  the  lake  this 
process  is  going  on  all  the  time;  buds,  flowers,  white,  pink,  and  pur- 
ple, are  displayed  in  every  degree  of  perfection.  The  Indians  sprang 
into  the  water  and  began  the  ditficult  task  of  cutting  the  leathery  and 
spiny  stalks,  rmd  of  uprooting  plants,  which  the  Senhor  designed  to 
transplant  to  the  fazenda.  Some  of  these  leaves  are  so  strongly  built 
and  strengthened  by  interlacing  braces  that  they  will  support  a  young 
child.     The  boats  were  laden  with  a  fragrant  freight,  and  once  more 


VICTORIA   REGIA. 


they  threaded  the  labyrinthine  igaripe,  but  this  time  Victoria  and  the 
Senhor  were  together,  and  he  urged  her  to  give  the  casting  vote  in 
favor  of  the  exploration  of  the  Tapajos.  "  But  first,"  he  asked,  "is 
there  anything  more  in  the  vicinity  which  you  would  like  to  see? 
With  the  exception  of  one  ceremonious  dinner  at  the  Baron's  and  the 


1-2  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

luncli  which  I  gave  in  return,  3'ou  have  seen  nothing  of  Brazilian 
society." 

"Nor  do  I  care  to/'  Victoria  replied;  "but  there  is  one  place  at  San- 
tarem  which  I  would  like  to  visit, —  the  leper  asylum/' 

The  Senhor  shuddered.  "It  would  not  be  permitted,"  he  said, 
"Whatever  put  the  notion  of  that  horrible  place  into  your  head?" 

"Dr.  Stillman  visited  it." 

"Ah!  the  notion  is  w^orthy  of  him.  The  man  is  loathsome  to  me» 
I  do  not  see  how  the  Professor  can  endure  him,  or  Mrs.  Holmes 
could  ever  have  admitted  him  to  the  society  of  the  young  ladies  she 
was  chaperoning." 

"What  is  your  objection  to  the  Doctor.'*"  Victoria  inquired,  in 
wide-eyed  surprise. 

"  It  is  ungenerous  to  mention  suspicions,  but  did  3'ou  know  that  the 
photographer  we  saw  on  board  ship  was  really  not  a  professional 
photographer  at  all,  but  a  detective  in  disguise?" 

"  Well,  what  of  that  ?  " 

"  I  have  reason  to  think,  from  information  that  I  received  before 
leaving  the  States,  that  Doctor  Stillman  was  the  man  of  whom  he 
was  in  search," 

"Then  you  should  have  given  that  information  to  Mr.  Jenkins." 

"I  think  I  did  put  him  on  the  track." 

"I  am  sorry,"  Victoria  said  simpl}*,  "I  do  not  believe  he  is  the 
criminal,  and  it  must  be  very  dicagreeable  to  be  suspected." 

The  Senhor  shrugged  his  shoulders.  Not  long  after  they  came  in 
sight  of  the  fazenda.  \"er3'  beautiful  it  looked  with  the  tropical  sun- 
set flooding  the  Javary  palms  and  the  quivering  plumes  of  the  Assais* 

"Was  there  ever  a  region  so  surpassingl}'  lovel}'?"  Victoria 
exclaimed  with  enthusiasm. 

"Can  you  not  imagine  yourself  a  part  of  it,  the  Victoria  Regia  of 
this   little  kingdom?"  the  Senhor  asked  in  a  low  voice. 

"No/'   Victoria    replied,    apparently    not    comprehending    his    full 


VICTORIA    KEG/A. 


^s:> 


meaning.  "It  is  a  paradise  indeed,  but  lile  in  such  a  paradise  would 
be  pure  seltishness;  for  surely  we  are  placed  in  this  world  to  help 
lift  up  our  lellow  creatures  and  relorm  society,  and  not  to  desert  our 
own  countr\'  and  time  with  its  calls  for  earnest  labor." 

It  was  a  strange  speech  for  Victoria  to  make.  It  sounded  cxactl}' 
like  one  of  the  Doctor's,  and  she  remembered  W'ith  a  blush  that  the 
w^ords  which  had  incensed  her  so  highly  and  had  led  to  their  quarrel 
were  almost  identical  with  these.  Was  she  comina'  to  aefrec  with 
him  so  exactly? 

Had  the  Senhor  known  how^  deeply  her  mind  was  becoming  inter- 
ested in  new  aims  for  higher  living,  he  might  have  argued  that  here 
was  a  mission  field  in  the  uplifting  of  the  little  community  over 
which  he  reigned  almost  as  a  feudal  lord.  But  the  Senhor  had  no 
sympathy  with  such  ideas,  and  he  continued  to  press  considerations 
of  a  more  selfish  nature.  ''I  hope,"  he  said,  "to  build  here  a  domain. 
I  shall  add  to  my  land  and  my  servants  until  I  am  the  most  powerful 
proprietor  in  this  region.  I  shall  build  a  castle  here  which  3-ou  must 
help  me  plan,  and  whose  appointments  3'ou  shall  select  in  Europe. 
My  family  is  influentially  connected,  and  with  my  means  it  will  not 
be  difficult  to  purchase  a  title.  Say  that  you  w-ill  accept  that  of  the 
Baroness  da  Silva  y  Palacios  and  I  will  secure  it  for  you.  I  do  not 
ask  3'ou  to  answer  me  now^,  only  to  think  of  it,  and  to  tell  me  when 
the  trip  is  over." 

"  I  ought  not  to  let  3'ou  think  of  it  as  possible,"  Victoria  said.  "  I 
ought  to  tell  3-ou  now,  once  for  all." 

"No,"  he  interrupted,  "I  will  not  receive  m3'  answer  now;  3'ou 
must  have  time  to  think." 

"Ver3'  well,"  she  replied,  "perhaps  it  will  be  best  so." 

That  evening  after  dinner  the  vote  was  taken.  The  Senhor  was 
elated  and  confident  as  he  passed  his  wide  Panama  hat,  but  his 
expression  changed  as  he  read  the  slips,  —  there  were  onl3'  two 
marked  Tapajos,  while  there  wxre  three  ballots  for  the  Madeira. 


154 


THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


As  she  bade  him  good-night,  Victoria  lingered  an  instant  behind 
the  rest.     '^  I  can  decide  better  away  iVom  you,''  she  said. 

"One  moment,  Victoria,"  the  Senhor  replied;  but  she  had  gone. 
"She  is  afraid  that  she  will  consent,"  the  Senhor  said  to  himself. 
"The  battle  is  more  than  half  won,"  —  and  then  he  scowled  deeply  — 
"but  I  cannot  so  to  the  States  for  her.  I  mic^ht,  however,  meet  her 
in  Europe.  No,  that  is  too  problematical.  They  must  return  this 
way,  and,  little  as  they  have  it  in  their  minds,  they  shall  do  so." 


THE   MADEIRA    TROUBLE. 


OD 


CHAPTER    XL 


THE    MADEIRA    TROUBLE. 


HEIR  last  day  at  the  iazcnda  was  a  biis\'  one. 
The  Senhor  drew  Maud  aside  early  in  the 
morning.  '^  1  would  like  to  eonsult  you,"  he 
said  in  the  flattering-  tone  in  whieh  he  had  latterly 
tried  to  ingratiate  himself  in  jNIaud's  good  opinion. 
"I  wish  to  make  Miss  Delavan  a  good-by  present: 
what  do  you  think  would  please  her  most?" 

"Will  you  act  on  my  suggestion."*"  Maud  asked, 
"in  case  I  give  my  opinion." 

"Most  certainly,"  the  Senhor  replied  blandly. 
"Then  if  you   will    sit  to   me   for  3'our  portrait,  I 
■will  do   my  best  to   make  one  which  will   keep   3-ou   in   her  remem- 
brance." 

The  Senhor  shot  a  keen  look  at  Maud's  impenetrable  face,  reflected 
a  moment,  and  accepted  the  ofler.  "But  what  can  you  do  in  one 
day?"  he  asked. 

"It  will  only  be  a  sketch,  but  I  will  work  fast,  and  do  my  best." 
Maud  kept  her  promise  and  speedily  washed  in  a  striking  likeness. 
While  the  painting  w\as  progressing  Victoria  had  kept  her  room. 
"The  time  has  come  for  me  to  w^rite  that  apology  to  the  Doctor,"  she 
said  to  Delicrht.  "I  wish  I  could  see  him  and  talk  it  out;  however 
'  what  must  be,  must,' "  and  Victoria  wrote  a  gentle,  lady-like  note,  as 
unlike  the  one  which  the  Doctor  had  just  received,  and  purporting  to 
come  from  her,  as  sweetness  from  poison.  This  note  she  lelt  with  her 
own  hands  the  next  day  at  Senhor  Correa's.     A  shabby  priest  was 


1^6  THREE    I'ASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

loiHii^inU"  in  the  store,  and  wlien  slie   left  he  tlirew  away  the  cii^-arette 
Avliich   lie   had   been   smokini;-  and   spoke   to   Senhor  Correa.      ''That 
letter  is  lor  my  Iriend  Dr.  Stillnian,  is  it  not?"" 
"Yes.      He  has  gone  up  the  river,  has  he  not?" 
"Yes.     I  j(jin  him  by  the  next  boat,  and  I  will  deliver  it." 
"  Verv  well,"  and   Vietoria's   note  was   salely  buttoned  within   liro- 
ther   Dennis's  cassock.      The  priest  then    sauntered  down  tcj  the  land- 
ing and   embarked   on  the   same   steamer  with   the   Professor's   j'JartN'. 
It  was  doubled   in  size   now,  lor  the  Senhor  had  insisted  on  their  tak- 
inir  a  hall"  dozen  of  his  own   servants,  among  whom  were   l^hiiomena 
Graciliano.  and  Pedro.     "You  can  obtain  boats  easily  enough   up  the 
river,"   he   said,   "but   cannot    always    depend    upon    tinding   faithful 
servants." 

It  so  happened  that  the  Senhor  could  not  go  to  Santarem  to  sec 
them  olf,  for  his  steamer  from  the  upper  Tapajos  arrived  as  they  were 
leaving,  and  there  were  a  number  of  matters  which  required  his 
immediate  attention.  The  Indians  were  to  return  to  him  when  thev 
had  safely  conve3'ed  the  party  to  Exaltacion.  The  Senhor  begged 
the  Professor  not  to  wait  until  their  return,  but  to  send  him  frequent 
news  of  their  welfare,  promising  at  the  same  time  to  forward  letters 
for  them  to  different  cities  on  the  Pacitic  coast,  which,  transferred  bv 
the  usual  route  for  crossing  the  continent,  might  be  expected  to  reach 
their  destination  more  quickly  than  the  Professor's  party. 

Maud,  while  making  her  sketch  of  the  Senhor,  had  noticed  carefully 
every  little  peculiarity  of  complexion,  and  she  had  come  to  the  con- 
clusion that  his  mustache  was  dyed.  The  ends  w^ere  intensely  black, 
but  close  to  the  lip  there  wms  a  little  distance  where  it  had  ireshly 
grown,  where  the  color  was  much  lighter.  She  was  positive,  too,  that 
it  was  not  gray,  but  a  light  yellow^  Then  she  remembered  Victoria's 
discovery  in  regard  to  the  wig,  and  close  to  the  Senhor's  neck  she 
discovered  a  curling  wisp  of  golden  hair.  It  was  hardly  long  enough 
to  be  detected,  a  mere   point  shining  among  the  glossy  black  waves. 


THE   MADEIRA    TROUBLE. 


157 


but  Maud  saw  it,  and  it  conlirmcd  licr  suspicions.  Siic  had  never 
lancicd  tliat  she  would  lon<;-  lor  the  society  ot'  Mr.  Jenkins,  but  slie 
would  have  been  <^-reatly  pleased  at  this  juncture  to  ha\e  had  a  lew 
moments'  con\ersation  with  him,  or  e\en  to  have  known  his  address. 
She  hunted  up  the  newspaper  containing-  the  description  of  ^NTr. 
Bartlett,  and  in  the  solitude  of  her  own  room  that  last  afternoon  at 
the  fazenda  she  dashed  in  another  sketch  of  the  Senhor,  folio wino- 
the  study  alread}'  made  in  form  and  feature, 
but  chani2"inir  the  colorinir.  The  eifect  was 
^startling,  and  she  was  on  the  point  of  mailing 
the  result  to  iSIessrs.  Gold  and  Glitter,  of  New 
York,  when  the  memory  of  her  Lisbon  friends 
restrained  her.  The  brother  of  little  Candida  ^^^ 
could  not  be  the  default- 
ing clerk, —  and  baffled 
and  puzzled  she  hid  the 
portrait  in  the  bottom  of 
her  sketch-box. 

Their  voyage  up  the 
river  was  uneventful, — 
the  same  lazy  tropical 
da}'S  following  one  upon 
another,  the  same  luxu- 
riance of  tropical  foliage 
in  the  landscape,  and  the  broad  yellow  river  tiowing  on  to  the 
sea.  They  had  noticed  far  down  toward  its  mouth  bits  of  pumice- 
stone  floating  upon  its  surface,  and  every  day  brought  them  nearer 
the  volcanoes  which  had  sent  them  these  hardened  foam-flakes  as 
their  greetings. 

Brother  Dennis  did  not  seek  their  society.  He  had  succeeded  in 
deceiving  Dr.  Stillman,  but  he  wisely  declined  at  this  time  to  sub- 
mit his  disguise  to  the  scrutiny  of  a  bevy  of  sharp-eyed  girls.      He 


MAUD    HAS    A   SLSPICION. 


1^8  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  L\  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

left  them  at  Manaos,  determined  to  follow  them  later  if  a  clue  which 
seemed  to  present  itself  should  prove  false. 

The  Professor  availed  himself  of  steam  transportation  as  far  as  it 
was  atibrded,  but  found  himself  stranded  one  tine  morning  in  a  little 
village  on  the  banks  of  the  Madeira,  whose  principal  interest  consisted 
in  its  being  a  depot  of  the  rubber  trade.  Now  began  the  real  difficul- 
ties of  the  trip.  Two  boats  were  hired,  and  the  part\-  now  experi- 
enced the  more  arduous  camp  and  canoe  life.  They  carried  provisions 
for  two  months,  with  tents,  tools,  medicines,  and  presents  for  the 
Indians  whom  the}'  might  meet.  The}'  mounted  the  river  slowly, 
paddling  against  the  current.  The  scenery  was  monotonous,  and 
they  passed  verv  few  settlements,  even  of  Indians.  Now  and  then 
the  settlement  of  a  Seringueiro,  or  the  gipsy-like  camp  of  a  few  Car- 
ipunas,  who  had  come  to  the  river  in  search  of  turtle-eggs,  and  evcrv- 
where  else  the  loneliness  of  the  wilderness.  With  little  of  outside 
interest  they  came  to  know  each  other  more  intimately,  and  Maud 
began  to  feel  herself  more  strongly  drawn  to  Victoria.  A  change 
had  come  over  the  girl.  She  v/as  no  longer  careless  and  frivolous. 
vShe  was  carefully  studying  her  own  soul,  and  her  mind  was  iilled  with 
a  vague  discontent;  all  her  previous  ambitions  seemed  puerile,  and 
she  longed  lor  the  ^'  more  excellent  way."  Delight  was  cheerful  and 
merry  as  ever,  extracting  entertainment  and  even  enthusiasm  out  of 
the  most  meagre  material.  It  was  Delight  who  first  suspected  a 
romance  between  Philomena  and  Graciliano.  "  He  is  not  married  at 
all,"  she  informed  the  other  girls,  "as  the  Senhor  led  us  to  suppose, 
when  we  were  talking  that  night  about  the  dolphins.  But  he  is  terri- 
bly jealous  of  Philomena,  and  only  came  on  this  trip  because  he  knew 
she  was  coming." 

Delight  listened  to  the  songs  which  tlie  boatmen  sang,  and  copied 
them  in  her  note-book.  There  was  one  which  was  so  musical  that 
Victoria  learned  to  sing  it,  and  her  rich  voice  often  carried  the  air 
above  the  supporting  drone  of  the  Indians. 


THE  MADEIRA    TROUBLE.  I^C) 

"  Navigando  Voi  siguicndo 

En  mi  canoa,  Del  Madera 

Con  la  proa  La  carera 

Al  sentenrion.  Sin  timon." 

Had  it  not  been  for  Delight's  merry  ways  their  interest  might  have 
palled  in  this  long  streteh  of  their  journey,  but  she  kept  every  one  in 
"■ood  humor  with  her  own  lis^ht-heartedness. 

"  You  remind  me  of  a  saying  of  Alphonse  Karr,"  Maud  remarked 
to  her  one  day.  "^  Some  people  are  always  grumbling  because  roses 
have  thorns.     I  am  thankful  that  thorns  have  roses.' " 

All  went  well  until  they  reached  San  Antonio,  the  first  of  the 
eighteen  falls  of  the  Madeira.  Here  ic  a  Brazilian  outpost,  abandoned 
in  times  past  on  account  of  fevers,  and  scantily  garrisoned  at  the  time 
of  their  visit  with  a  few  soldiers.  San  Antonio  was  made,  as  late  as 
1882,  the  depot  for  the  railroad  supplies,  rolling-stock,  engine,  rails, 
houses,  and  other  property  of  the  Madeira  and  Marmori  Railroad.  It 
was  sad  to  witness  the  abandonment  of  this  enterprise,  and  the  waste, 
through  the  long  rains,  of  machinery  and  property  exceeding  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars  in  value.  They  were  told  that  the  road,  as 
far  as  it  had  been  cut  through  the  forest,  was  so  completely  overgrown 
as  to  be  scarcely  traceable,  while  every  particle  of  movable  material 
left  unguarded  had  been  carried  away  by  the  Indians.  Now  began 
the  portages  which  it  was  necessary  to  repeat  so  frequently  as  they 
proceeded.  The  boats  were  unloaded  and  towed  up  the  rapids,  while 
the  packages  and  boxes  were  carried  on  the  backs  of  the  Indians 
along  the  shore.  At  the  Theotino  Cataract,  the  next  considerable 
fall,  it  was  necessar}^  to  transport  the  boats  themselves  on  land  for 
nearly  eight  hundred  yards.  Rollers  were  placed  beneath  them,  but 
the  process  was  very  tedious  and  wearisome  even  for  the  sturdy 
Indians. 

The  scenery  was  no  longer  monotonous,  but,  broken  by  ranges  of 
hills,  it  was  in  some  places  wildly  picturesque.    The  Theotino  Cataract 


l6o  'JHREE    I'AS^AR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

was  especially  imposing.  The  spectacle  of  its  whirling,  tossing 
spray;  its  black  crags  and  leajnng  wa\es  playing  w  ith  the  driftwood 
and  tossing  tree-trunks  into  the  air  as  though  the}-  wx're  child's  play- 
things, was  exhilarating,  and  thrilled  the  nerves  with  a  sympathetic 
sense  of  power.  The  portage,  however,  was  difficult,  and  ]Maud 
heard  the  servants  grumbling  among  themselves;  Pedro  apparently 
paciticd  in  a  sentence  of  which  INIaud  could  only  understand  the 
words,  "Not  here,  but  at  the  Caldeirao  do  Inferno." 

The  rapids  of  Caldeirao  do  Inferno,  or  IlelFs  Kettle,  has  the  worst 
reputation  of  all  the  eighteen  falls  of  the  Madeira.  ]More  than  one 
hardy  traveller  has  been  drowned  in  its  treacherous  eddies,  and  many 
a  cargo  has  been  wrecked  upon  its  rocks.  What  was  the  consterna- 
tion of  the  tourists,  on  arriving  at  this  hazardous  point,  at  being 
informed  by  Pedro  that  the  Indians  would  go  no  further;  that  indeed 
this  was  the  spot  at  Avhicli  tlie  Senhor  had  ordered  them  to  leave  the 
party.  It  was  in  vain  that  the  Professor  exhausted  ever}'  means  in  his 
power  to  induce  them  to  continue  with  them  as  far  as  the  Mission  of 
Exaltacion.  The  Indians  were  obdurate,  and  prepared  one  of  the 
boats  lor  their  descent,  unscrupulously  lading  it  with  food  and  such 
other  articles  as  took  their  fancw  Only  Philomena  remained  faithful. 
She  had  become  strongly  attached  to  Victoria  and  relused  to  leave 
lier.  Apparently  Graciliano  wasted  much  eloquence  upon  her  in  en- 
deavoring to  change  her  determination.  She  turned  her  back  upon 
him  resolutely,  and  he  reluctantly  entered  the  boat  as  it  was  pushed 
from  shore.  They  sat  down  on  the  boxes  of  the  Professor's  fossils  in 
utter  silence;  no  one  had  a  suggestion  to  otler,  so  complete  was  their 
despair.  Suddenly  Philomena  uttered  a  glad  cry,  and  pointed  to  the 
black  head  of  a  swimmer  coming  rapidly  tow\ard  them  through  the 
water.  It  was  Graciliano,  whose  resolution  had  deserted  him,  and 
who  had  returned  to  share  the  fortunes  of  the  lad}'  of  his  heart.  lie 
shook  the  water  from  liim  like  a  2:rcat  Newfoundland  doer,  and  re- 
ceived  Philomena's  joyful  welcome  with  sheepish   satisfaction. 


THE  MADEIRA    TROUBLE. 


163 


"Tell  me  truly,"  Maud  asked,  "did  the  Senhor  bid  you  desert  us 
in  this  extremity?  He  promised  us  that  you  should  eonvey  us  all 
the  way  to  Exaltacion." 

"We  were  not  to  desert  you,"  Graciliano  replied,  "we  were  to  take 
vou  back  with  us.  The  men  are  waitin<^^  now  at  the  rapid  of  the 
Little  Hell.  If  you  care  to  return  they  will  take  3'ou,  if  not,  they 
will  go  back  to-morrow  morning  without  3'ou." 

"Shall  we  return?"  Delight  asked.  "What  other  alternative  have 
we?" 

"Return  to  Senhor  Silva's!"  Victoria  exclaimed.     "Never." 

"Not  necessarily  to  Senhor  Silva,"  Mrs.  Holmes  suggested;  "but 
to  Manaos,  where  we  can  take  the  steamer  for  Para." 

"We  ought  to  be  able  to  hire  Indian  paddlers  in  this  vicinitv,"  the 
Professor  suggested,  "and  if  so,  we  can  continue  our  journey  as  we 
have  planned  it.  I  do  not  like  to  trust  our  lives  in  the  hands  of  those 
treacherous  men  again.  They  have  stolen  our  goods,  and,  rather  than 
convey  us  to  a  civilized  region,  where  the}'  would  be  compelled  to 
restore  them,  I  fear  they  might  be  tempted  to  murder  us  all." 

Graciliano,  when  conferred  with,  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  it 
was  decided  to  go  into  camp  where  they  were  for  the  night. 
This  was  effected  very  comfortably;  for  their  stock  of  provisions 
and  comforts,  though  lessened,  w^ere  still  sufficient  for  their  neces- 
sities. 

The  next  morning  the  Professor  and  Graciliano  started,  on  what 
appeared  to  be  an  Indian  trail,  in  search  of  a  village.  All  day  long 
the  forlorn  women  waited  for  them  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  but  night 
settled  upon  them,  and  the  Professor  did  not  return.  Maud  thought 
with  a  shudder  of  the  fate  of  Madame  Odonnais,  and  Philomena  told 
blood-curdling  stories  of  tribes  of  savage  Indians,  murderers  and 
cannibals,  who  roved  this  region,  and  had  kidnapped  men  not  many 
years  before.  No  one  slept  during  that  night.  The}'  built  a  bonfire 
and  piled  driftwood  upon  it  from  time  to  time,  not  knowing  whether  it 


164  THREE    I'ASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

would  prove  a  beacon  to  Iriend  or  loe.  Morning  dawned,  and  Phi- 
lomena  prepared  breakfast,  but  no  one  could  eat  a  morsel.  Toward 
noon  a  Boli\ian  merchant,  descending  the  river  witli  a  train  of  ca- 
noes nnd  barges,  laden  with  hides  and  tallow,  came  down  the  ri\er 
bank  with  his  servants  to  arrange  a  portage  around  the  lalls.  lie 
offered  to  take  them  down  the  river,  but  this  proposal  was  tirmly 
declined.  Mrs.  Holmes  begged  him  to  send  some  one  in  search  of 
her  husband,  and  he  agreed  to  do  so  after  he  had  completed  the 
transfer  of  his  boats. 

A  lew  hours  later,  much  to  their  relief,  the  Professor  and  Graci- 
liano  appeared  with  three  friendly  Caripuna  Indians,  whose  services 
they  had  secured.  The  Bolivian  merchant,  on  examination  of  their 
canoe,  agreed  to  exchange  it  for  one  of  his  own  convoy  above  the 
falls,  thus  avoiding  the  transport  of  both  around  the  rapids.  En- 
couraged by  this  piece  of  good  fortune  and  by  the  timely  arrival 
of  reinforcements,  their  goods  were  speedily  carried  up  the  bank, 
and  before  nightfall  were  safely  stowed  in  the  new  canoe.  For  a 
time  their  troubles  seemed  to  have   ended. 

The  Professor  made  valuable  discoveries  of  fossils,  and  in  the 
broad  river  spaces  between  the  rapids  they  progressed  easily,  spread- 
ing two  sails  with  which  the  canoe  was  provided,  and  gliding  easily 
along  before  a  fa\orable  wind.  But  in  the  repeated  portages,  the 
Professor,  anxious  to  be  of  help,  over-exerted  himself,  and  when  the 
journey  was  nearly  accomplished  he  was  taken  ill  with  an  intermit- 
tent fever. 

"It  is  the  tertiana,"*  said  Philomena.  ^' The  falls  of  the  Madeira 
are  noted  for  it.  When  the  railroad  was  being  built  we  used  to  hear 
that  a  man  was  buried  for  every  sleeper  laid  in  the  track." 

Their  trouble  was  increased  by  Mrs.  Holmes's  discovery  that  the 
medicine  chest  had  been  carried  away  by  Pedro  for  the  sake  of  the 
brandy  and  Jamaica  ginger  which  it  contained.  Victoria's  botanical 
studies  now  came  to  the  front.     With  Graciliano  as  pioneer,  to  clear 


THE  MADEIRA    TROUBLE. 


167 


the  way  before  her  with  an  axe,  she  made  a  short  excursion  into  the 
tbrest,  and  returned  with  some  of  the  fruit  of  the  guarana.  Philo- 
mena  prepared  the 
paste,  moulding  it 
into  the  shape  oi  the 
curupira,  or  bird  of 
the  evil  eye  ;  for 
without  this  symbolic 
form  she  was  sure 
the  drug  would  lose 
its  efficacy,  and  un- 
der its  administra- 
tion the  Professor  for 
a  time  experienced 
some  relief.  During 
their  marches  he  Avas 
now  carried  in  a 
hammock,  and  keep- 
ing up  heart  as  best 
they  could,  with  the 
knowledge  that  they 
were  n  earing  the 
Cachoeira  das  Ba- 
naneiras,  the  last  im- 
portant fall  of  the 
Madeira. 

It  was  at  the  Ba- 
naneiras,  however, 
that  the  last  catas- 
trophe occurred.  The  violent  treatment  which  the  boat  had  re- 
ceived in  its  battles  with  sharp  rocks  in  being  towed  through 
rapids,  and  especialh'  the   straining  and   wrenching   in   rolling   o^■er 


MOUTH    OF    LATERAL    RIVER.    ^L^DE11;... 


i68 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


the    stony    Lrround    and     through    the    obstrueting     underbrush     had 
so    weakened    it,    that    when    the    Indians    loaded    it    in    the    rapids 

above  the  falls,  the 
shock  occasioned  by 
the  fall  of  a  heavy  box 
of  fossils,  which  one  of 
the  Indians  dropped, 
jiroved  the  last  straw^ 
and  the  canoe  went 
to  pieces  before  their 
eyes.  Fortunately, 

none  of  the  part}'  were 
on  board,  and  the  In- 
dians rescued  most  of 
the  provisions,  but  the 
Professor's  precious 
collections  went  to  the 
bottom  like  lead.  The 
poor  man  gave  a  cry 
of  amazed  grief,  and 
sank  back  in  his  ham- 
mock, utterly  over- 
come. 

What  was  to  be  done  ? 
Xothing  but  to  camp' 
once  more  and  wait 
for  help.  They  were 
in  the  neighborhood 
of  unfriendly  Indians^ 
notorious  robbers  and 
plunderers  who,  were  they  aware  of  their  misfortune,  would  take  ad- 
vantaire  of  their  distressed  condition;  but  the  river  was  the  highway, 


CARU'l   NA    INDIAN     llL'Nil.Xt. 


THE  MADEIRA    TROUBLE. 


171 


and  it  was  to  be  hoped  that  some  other  traveller  as  friendly  as  the 
Bolivian  merchant  would  appear  to  their  relief.  The  Professor's 
fever,  increased  by  his  excitement  and  disappointment,  assumed  a 
more  alarming  type,  and,  to  add  to  their  discomfort,  their  provisions 
began  to  give  out.  Graciliano  and  the  Indians  fished;  there  was  still 
a  good  supply  of  farina,  but  the  canned  articles  had  disappeared,  and 
only  one  ham  remained.  The  Caripunas  had  brought  with  them  a 
pair  of  lean  and  mangy  dogs,  who  cleared  the  remains  of  ever}'  meal, 
and,  like  Pharoah's 
lean  kine,  seemed 
none  the  fatter  for 
their  eating.  One 
morning  it  was  dis- 
covered that  the  ham 
had  disappeared,  and 
this  time  one  of  the 
dogs  really  was  fat. 
He  lay  in  contented 
idleness,  winking  at 
them  sleepily  with 
liis      thievish       eves. 

The  Indian  owner,  unable  to  say  a  word  in  defence  of  his  pet,  and 
apparenth^  actuated  by  a  desire  to  do  the  fair  thing,  offered  to  kill  the 
dog  as  reparation,  urging  that  in  so  doing  he  returned  the  stolen  meat 
with  interest,  and  assuring  them  that  dog-flesh  was  very  good  eating. 
It  was  Delight  who  retailed  the  story  to  the  others,  and  it  raised 
the  one  laugh  in  which  they  indulged  during  their  melancholy  camp 
on  the  Bananeiras.  The  next  day  a  number  of  Indian  canoes  passed 
them,  going  down  the  river,  and  the  Caripunas  left  them  with  the  full 
consent  of  their  employers,  for  they  had  no  longer  work  or  provisions 
for  them.  Graciliano  killed  and  roasted  a  monkey  for  supper,  from 
M'hich   Philomena  and  he   made  a  plentiful  meal,  lor  the  others  could 


INDIAN    DOGS. 


172 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


not  bring  thcmsclxes  to  toucli  it,  though  Philomcna  arranged  an  arm 
as  tcmptingh'  as  possible,  and  assured  lier  young  mistress  tliat  it  was 
verv  like  squirrel.  The  guarana  seemed  no  longer  to  exert  any 
inrtuence  over  the  Prol'essor;  he  was  delirious  and  raved  piteously 
about  his  theories. 

"To  think,"  said  Victoria  bitterly,  "that  it  is  the  Senhor's  perlkly 
whicli  has  brought  us  to  this  extremity.  lie  j-)retended  an  interest 
in  the  Professor's  \vork,  and  assured  us  that  his  ser\ants  were  laithful 
only  to  wreck  the  expedition  and  make  it  necessary  lor  us  to  return 
to  him.  But,  even  if  he  had  succeeded,  I  do  not  see  what  advantage 
he  could  have  expected  to  reap,  since  we  lose  our  good  opinion  of 
him." 

"He  evidently  supposed  that  we  w^ould  blame  his  servants,''  said 
Maud,  "and  he  is  so  very  plausible  that  if  we  were  to  return  I  be- 
lieve he  could  make  us  all  think  that  he  had  nothing  whatever  to  do 
with  the  matter.  Now,  however,  there  seems  to  be  no  opportunit}' 
to  return.  Victoria  used  the  correct  word,  —  we  are  really  in  ex- 
tremity." 

"Man's  extremity  is  God's  opportunity,"  said  Delight  with  a  quaver 
in  lier  usuallv  jovous  voice.  "  When  things  are  at  their  very  worst 
the  next  cliange  must  be  for  the  better,  and  surely  nothing  can  be 
much  worse  than  this." 

Poor  Delight  I  As  she  spoke,  Maud  and  Victoria  looked  at  each 
other,  an  unspoken  fear  palsying  their  hearts.  The}'  had  watched 
the  Professor  narrowly,  and  had  seen  him  slipping,  slipping  slowly 
out  of  their  hands.  Mrs.  Holmes  was  almost  crazed  with  anxiety, 
only  Delight  would  not  see  the  awful  danger  and  Avas  obstinately 
hopeful  and  cheerful.  It  was  Maud's  turn  to  sit  up  with  the  sick 
man  to-night,  and  Victoria  left  the  cabin  and  walked  desperately 
and  aimlessly  down  to  the  foaming  water  below  the  fall.  ''  It  he 
dies,"  she  said  to  herself,  "  wdiat  will  become  of  us?  It  is  true  that 
we  have  plentv  of   money,  but  in  our  condition   it  is  of  no   more  use 


THE  MADEIRA    TROUBLE. 


173 


than  Crusoe's  gold  on  the  uninluibitcd  island.  lie  must  )iot  die, 
and  yet  without  help  he  surely  will.  Oh!  where  is  Dr.  Stillman?" 
In  her  despair  she  had  uttered  the  ery  aloud,  thinking  herself  quite 
alone.  Now  to  her  alarm  she  saw  a  dark  figure  gliding  along  the 
river  bank  toward  her.  She  turned  and  walked  rapidly  toward  the 
cabin,  but  looking  over  her  shoulder  she  saw  that  the  man  had  also 
quickened  his  pace  and  was  gaining  upon  her.  The  stories  of  the 
kidnapping  Indians  flashed  upon  her  mind,  and  she  ran  frantically. 
She  might  have  escaped,  but  the  ground  was  rock}-  and  uneven. 
She  tripped  on  a  rolling  stone  and  fell  violently  forward.  She  tried 
to  rise,  and  as  she  did  so  she  felt  a  firm  grasp  upon  her  shoulder, 
.^aul,  brave  girl  as  she  was,  she  tainted  quite  away. 


174 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


HELP. 


HEN    Mr.    Jenkins     left    the    steamer    he 
imagined    himself    on    the    track    of    the 
Senhor.      A  merchant  bearing  the  name 
of  Silva  had   come  up  the  river  with  the 
'  \  l\    )  I  \  Captain  on  a  previous  trip,  and  had  stopped  at 
.//  1  /  \      Manaos.      At    Manaos,    therefore,    Mr.   Jenkins 
■IT   '"^  disembarked  and  proceeded   to   make  inquiries 

'  .^■■^=^^i,__^  \  concerning    his    man,   whom    he    found,   to    his 

disgust,  to  be  a  perfectly  reputable  and  ancient 
resident  of  the  place,  a  wealthy,  aged,  and  corpulent  individual,  sur- 
rounded by  a  large  family.  Mr.  Jenkins  should  not  have  built  too 
much  upon  the  name,  which  he  now  found  to  be  as  common  in 
Brazil  as  its  equivalent,  Wood,  in  the  United  States.  Before  de- 
scending the  river  Mr.  Jenkins  met  the  Doctor,  as  he  imagined  that 
he  might;  but  he  scarcely  recognized  him,  he  had  become  so  thin 
and  dejected. 

"  Cheer  up,  my  friend,"  he  exclaimed,  giving  the  young  man  a 
hearty  blow  upon  the  shoulder.  "  I  have  brought  you  an  answer  to 
the  letter  which  you  left  at  the  sawmill  on  the  Tapajos  last  week/' 

The  Doctor  received  the  letter  with  a  look  of  wonder,  and  as  he 
read  it  his  mystification  deepened.  ^' I  do  not  understand  this, 
Brother  Dennis,"  he  said.  "  It  purports  to  be  from  a  lady  of  my 
acquaintance,  but  I  have  already  received  a  letter  from  her,  written 
in  a  very  different  tone  and  hand." 

"Conclusion  is  evident  that  one  of  the  letters  is  a  forgery,"  said  Mr. 
Jenkins  cheerfully. 


HELP. 


175 


"Yes,  but  which  letter?     It  makes  worlds  of  difference  for  me," 

"I  saw  Miss  Victoria  Delavan  place  this  letter  in  Senhor  Correa's 
keeping  with  her  own  hands."' 

"Then  the  other  letter  is  the  forged  one,''  Dr.  Stillman  ex- 
claimed, a  great  wave  of  joy  sweeping  across  his  worn  lace. 
"But  who  could  have  been  interested  in  doing  sucli  a  base  thing? 
Surely  no  one  of  her  companions." 

"  I  don't  know;   have  you  the  letter?     Let  me  see  it." 

"Here  it  is.  I  don't  know 
why  I  saved  it  except  to 
wound  m}\self  again  and 
attain  bv  re-readino^  it." 

Mr.  Jenkins  gave  a 
long,  sharp  whistle. 
"That  is  the  handwriting 
of  the  man  I  am  in  search 
of —  the  defaultino'  clerk 
of  Gold,  Glitter  &  Co." 

"  What  do  you,  an  Irish 
priest,  know  of  Gold,  Glit- 
ter &  Co.?" 

In  answer,  Mr.  Jenkins 
tore  off  his  goggles  and 
threw  his  priestly  broad- 
brim on  the  ground.  As  Dr.  Stillman  continued  to  stare  in  mild 
surprise,  he  drew  from  an  inner  pocket  of  his  gown  his  scrap-book 
of  photographs,  and  remarked:  "Allow  me  to  present  these,  with 
the  compliments  of  your  humble  servant,  Abijah  Jenkins,  of  the 
Detective  Bureau,  No.  — ,  Great  Jones  Street,  New  York.  Can  be 
telephoned  for,  except  when  on  special  duty,  as  at  present,  Irom  the 
rooms  of  the  Police  Court  Tombs  Prison." 

"Your  disguise  is  perfect;  but  I  do  not  understand  its  object." 


MR.   JENKINS    REVEALS    HIMSELF, 


J -(3  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

"  It  is  not  necessary  tliat  you  sliould.  Indeed,  I  am  not  sure  but 
vou  already  know  too  niucli,  since  I  liave  made  it  e\ident  tliat  tlie 
ro<^>'ue  I  am  in  search  of  is  a  member  of  Prolessor  Holmes's  party. 
They  are  clever  lellows  at  disguises.  Who  can  lie  be?  Not  the 
Prolessor  liimselL  His  age  is  certainly  not  make  up,  and  the  Senhor 
Silya,  whom  I  at  tirst  suspected,  was  not  Avith  them  when  they  came 
up  the  river." 

^'  Perhaps  he  has  adopted  ladies*  attire."  The  Doctor  spoke  in  tine 
scorn,  but  Mr.  Jenkins  caught  at  the  idea. 

^'  It  is  perfectly  possible.  They  sometimes  do  that,  you  know. 
There  was  a  Flying  Lulu,  a  clever  trapeze  performer,  who  was  a 
<>Teat  belle,  and  who  turned  out  to  be  a  man." 

"But  one  of  these  ladies!     You  are  surely  insane." 

"No,  I  am  not.  That  is  Bartlett's  handwriting,  and  that  is  proof 
positive  that  Bartlett  exists  somewhere.  I  believe  he  is  in  the  Pro- 
fessor's party,  and  I  propose  to  tind  him.  I  have  carte  blanche  as  to 
expense,  and  the  live  thousand  extra  which  I  shall  obtain  if  I  am  suc- 
cessful is  worth  an  effort.  They  have  gone  up  the  jNIadeira,  and  I 
shall  follow  them.     AVould  you  like  to  go  with  me?" 

"Yes,  if  only  to  protect  them  from  any  annoyance  to  which  you 
might  subject  them." 

"I  shall  not  annoy  them  unless  I  am  sure,  but  I  have  a  shrewd  fel- 
low to  deal  with  and  I  must  be  shrewd  myself.  You  must  promise 
not  to  betray  me,  or  I  '11  not  take  you  with  me." 

"I  promise,  and  I  will  even  undertake  to  help  you." 

"You  can  do  that  if  you  choose.  Find  out  who  wrote  that  letter. 
It  is  perfectly  natural  that  you  should  want  to  know  that  for  personal 
reasons.     When  I  know  that,  I  have  all  the  information  I  want." 

"  I  agree  to  do  this  if  you  will  promise,  on  your  side,  not  to  trouble 
the  ladies  in  any  way." 

"  I  shall  trouble  no  one  but  the  author  of  that  letter." 

"Then  it  is  a  compact." 


HELP. 


179 


When  the  Doctor  and  Mr.  Jenkins  readied  San  Antonio  they  found 
tlie  BoHvian  mercliant  who  liad  assisted  tiie  Professor  at  the  Caldeirao 
ready  to  ascend  the  river  with  his  empty  barges,  ha\  ing  disposed  ot 
liis  cargo  of  liides  and  tallow  at  the  rubber  depot  below.  Though  of 
mixed  blood,  his  father  having  been  a  mulatto  and  iiis  mother  an 
Indian,  he  was  intelHgent  as  well  as  wealthy,  for  slavery  does  not 
exist  in  Bolivia,  and  such  education  as  there  is,  is  free  to  all.  The 
vears  which  had  passed  over  his  frosty  poll  had  made  him  kind!}'  as 
well  as  shrewd,  and  though  his  face  was  as  twisted  as  a  gnarled 
apple,  the  Professor's  party  had  reason  to 
remember  long  his  courtesy  to  them.  lie 
readily  agreed  to  give  Brother  Dennis 
and  the  Doctor  passage,  and  the  \o3-agers 
ascended  the  river  much  more  rapidl}' 
than  the  Professor  had  done.  When 
they  reached  the  "^  Kettle,""'  he  told  them 
of  his  adventure  wnth  the  unfortunate 
tourists,  and  the  Doctor's  heart  blessed 
him  for  his  kindness  to  those  dear  to  him. 
As  their  meeting  drew  near,  he  grew 
more  and  more  impatient.  The  long 
delays  caused  by  the  portages  were  al- 
most insupportable,  and  he  frequently  strode  on  ahead;  at  such  times 
acting  as  pioneer,  and  stri\ing  by  every  means  in  his  power  to  hasten 
their  progress. 

They  reached  the  lower  rapids  o\  the  Bananeiras  at  nightfall,  too 
late  to  unload  or  to  attempt  to  get  the  boats  near  the  fill  that  night. 
But  after  the  evening  meal,  the  Doctor,  urged  by  an  impetuosity 
which  he  could  not  himself  explain,  walked  on  u]i  the  ri\er  bank, 
and,  as  we  have  seen,  unintentionally  alarmed  Victoria. 

"I  would  not  have  frightened  you  for  any  consideration,"  he  said, 
as   she   slowly   regained   consciousness,   "but  I  thought   I    heard  my 


BOI.IVIAV    MKKCUANT. 


l8o  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

name  called,  and   I   naturally  hurried   forward.      I  called  when  I  saw 
that  you  retreated,  but  you  did  not  recognize  me." 

"You  iia\  e  e(jme  not  a  moment  too  soon,'"  Victoria  replied.  "I 
fear  the  dear  Professor  is  already  beyond  3'our  power  to  save." 

The  Doctor's  opinion,  after  a  protracted  examination,  was  not 
encouraging.  He  was  non-committal  to  INIrs.  Holmes  and  Delight, 
but  to  Victoria  he  acknowledged  that  there  was  very  little  hope. 
''We  will  get  him  to  P>xaltacion,  where  he  can  ha\"e  all  needed  com- 
forts:   further  than  that  I  cannot  promise." 

Victoria's  anxiety  for  the  Professor  was  such  that  she  had  given  the 
Doctor  no  opportunity  at  their  hrst  meeting  to  speak  on  the  subject 
uppermost  in  his  mind,  and  until  the3M-eached  Exaltacion  their  life  on 
board  the  barge  threw  them  all  so  intimately  together  that  there  was 
no  chance  for  private  conversation.  The  Doctor  did,  indeed,  mention 
his  visit  at  the  fazenda  of  vSenhor  Polacios  and  learned  with  surprise 
that  Victoria  had  never  received  the  letter  which  he  left  for  her.  He 
could  not  mention  the  forged  letter  which  he  had  himseli'  received  in 
the  presence  of  the  others,  and  he  quietly  waited  a  more  convenient 
opportunity. 

Brother  Dennis  w^as  presented  to  the  part\',  but,  beyond  the  remark 
that  they  liad  noticed  him  on  tlie  steamer  between  Santarem  and 
Manaos,  he  excited  no  attention. 

All  breathed  a  sigh  of  relief  w'hen  the  barges  arrived  at  the  old 
Jesuit  mission  bearing  the  loft}'  name  of  the  Puerto  de  Exaltacion  de 
la  Santa  Cruz.  Peace  and  rest  seemed  to  brood  over  the  decaying 
town.  Silent  brown  women  glided  noiselessly  about.  The  plaza  with 
its  square  of  \erandahed  cottages  w^as  like  the  cloister  ol'  some  old 
con\ent,  and  the  tall  crucifixes,  and  the  adobe  church,  with  its  curious 
figade,  helped  the  illusion.  Victoria  almost  fancied  that  she  could 
see  the  exiled  brothers  of  the  Society  of  Jesus  attending  to  their 
priestly  avocations.  Surely,  she  thought,  if  the  Professor  must  die,  no 
more  peaceful  spot  could  have  been  chosen  for  his  last  hours  than  this. 


K\.\l-iACll<.\. 


HEL1\ 


l8? 


Tlie  Corrcgidor,  or  Prefect  of  the  Deparlnient,  [issioncd  them  apart- 
ments in  the  ancient  Collegium.  Here,  lor  a  time,  the  Professor's  lil'c 
seemed  iust  to  tiicker  in  the  socket.  Mrs.  Holmes  and  Deli<du  will 
never  forget  the  Doctor's  assiduous  kindness  during  those  heart- 
breaking days;  but  ever3-one  was  kind, —  the  Corrcgidor,  tlieir  fiithliil 
servants,  Philomena  and  Graciliano,  the  stranger  priest.  Brother  Den- 
nis, the  Bolivian  merchant  who  had  twice  helped  them  on  their  wav, 
and  the  friendly  Indians  of  the  Pueblo.  The  sick  man  reali/.ed  it  all, 
and  there  came  a  day  when,  freed  from  fever  and  pain,  he  thanked  them 
all  sweetly  for  what  they  had  done.  He  even  looked  over  Maud's 
portfolio  of  draw^ings  which  she  had  made  for  his  proposed  book. 
"The  specimens  are  not  all  lost,"  he  said  with  a  smile,  "for  \ou  have 
figured  some  of  them  here."  Then  he  spoke  of  how  he  hoped  to 
finish  the  book  when  he  reached  home,  and  no  one  had  the  heart 
to  tell  him  how  faint  a  possibility  there  was  of  this.  But  the  next 
day  and  the  next  passed,  and  he  was  no  worse.  ''What  a  miracle  it 
would  be,"'  Victoria  said  to  the  Doctor,  "if  he  should  recover  after 
all." 

"I  could  have  hopes  of  this,"  the  Doctor  replied,  ''  il"  he  could  be 
removed  away  from  the  malaria  of  the  river  to  the  higher  region  ol" 
the  Serras;  there  the  bracing  Andean  climate  and  Natuie  might  efiect 
a  cure,  but  he  is  not  strong  enough  to  bear  transportation." 

While  the  Professor  lingered  in  the  border-land  they  were  all 
invited  to  attend  a  wedding.  It  was  Philomena  who  asked  them,  for 
she  and  Graciliano  had  determined  to  a\ail  tiiemsehes  of  the  oppor- 
tunities which  the  mission  afforded,  and  to  be  Christianly  married. 
Brother  Dennis  was  invited  to  perform  the  ceremony,  but  he  some- 
what curtly  refused.  The  girls  dressed  Philomena  in  white  for  her 
bridal,  and  she  looked  reall}'  handsome  in  her  orange  blossoms.  "If," 
groaned  Maud,  "the  bridegroom  were  not  quite  such  a  Caliban!" 
The}'  attended  the  ceremonies  at  the  church,  and  Mrs.  Holmes  set 
out  a  little  "  refresco  "  in  their  best  room,  while  the  Professor  in5:isted 


IcS4  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

tiiat  tlic  ncwly-maniccl  jiair  should  come  to  his  bedside  to  receive  liis 
congratulations  and  a  considerable  gift  in  money. 

In  the  evening  there  were  Indian  dances  by  some  ot"  their  new 
acquaintances  in  the  plaza.  There  was  one  which  was  e\identh-  a 
religious  performance,  in  which  a  decorated  frame  or  portable  altar, 
surmounted  b}'  crucifixes,  was  borne  by  some  ^vomen,  the  dancers 
holding  long  ribbons  attached  to  it,  something  after  the  fashion  oi 
braiding  the  May-pole.  This,  with  its  chant  in  honor  of  the  Virgin, 
was  an  inheritance  Irom  the  early  Jesuit  Fathers,  —  a  remnant  of  the 
passion  phns  which  the}'  taught  their  converts.  Southey,  in  his 
"History  of  Brazil,''  mentions  these  autos  or  plays,  which  were  taught 
with  especial  success  by  Frajuan  Vaz,  who,  in  early  life,  was  one  of 
Charles  \''.'s  musicians,  and  speaks  of  the  mystery  and  dramatic  dances 
of  the  Three  Kings  of  the  East,  and  of  St.  Michael  and  the  Dragon, 
with  attendant  imps,  as  having  been  especially  popular. 

There  were  other  dances  which  were  clearly  relics  of  savager}-, — 
sword  dances,  and  a  pretty  reel,  in  which  the  women,  standing  in 
rows,  imitated  the  drawing  in  offish  lines,  and  the  men  acted  the  part 
of  frolicsome  fish.  One  stately  cotillion  was  of  foreign  importation 
and  was  called  —  the  Corregidor  told  them  —  the  Lonedone.  It  was 
some  time  belbre  it  dawned  upon  them  that  this  must  be  a  corruption 
ol'  London.  While  the  dances  were  progressing  ]Mr.  Jenkins  took 
the  Doctor  aside,  and  asked  him  if  he  had  discovered  the  writer  of 
the  forged  letter. 

"No,"' replied  the  young  man.  "I  confess  I  had  forgotten  all  about 
it." 

''  I  cannot  allbrd  to  lose  time  in  this  waN,''  the  detective  replied, 
somewhat  annoyed.  "If you  do  not  begin  your  investigations  imme- 
diate I}',  I  will." 

""I  will  try  at  once,"  the  Doctor  replied;  and,  approaching  Victoria, 
he  asked  her  if  she  would  like  to  obtain  a  bird's-eye  view  of  the 
plaza  from  the  top  of  the  campanile.      She  acceded,  but,  to  the  Doc- 


WUKU    UAN'CE. 


HELP.  187 

tor's  chagrin,  asked  Maud  to  accompan}-  them.  Tiie  dancers,  as 
viewed  from  the  summit,  made  a  very  pretty  spectacle,  and  fireworks 
were  being  displayed  at  the  opposite  end  of  the  plaza.  Maud  sud- 
denly remembered  that  she  had  promised  to  relieve  Mrs.  Holmes  by 
taking  her  place  at  the  Professors  bedside,  and  she  hastened  down 
the  stairs,  saying,  "Stay  just  where  you  arc,  and  she  will  know 
where  to  find  you." 

Now  was  the  Doctor's  opportunit}^,  and  his  nervous  fingers  sought 
for  the  letter  in  an  inner  pocket. 

"How  heartless  all  this  gayet}'  seems,"  Victoria  remarked. 
"How  can  any  one  think  of  marriage  when  the  good  Professor  is  so 
ill?" 

This  was  not  encouraging  for  the  Doctor,  for  marriage  was  just  the 
subject  uppermost  in  his  mind;  but  INIaud  was  entering  the  colle- 
gium, and  it  would  not  do  to  lose  this  chance  of  speaking  to  Victoria 
alone  about  the  letter.  He  placed  it  in  her  hands  and  asked  her  if 
she  recognized  the  handwriting. 

"No,"  she  replied  wonderingly.  "Am  I  concerned  in  it?  May  1 
read  it  ? " 

"  Yes,  to  both  questions." 

As  Victoria  read  it  her  wonder  deepened.  "  I  do  not  understand.'' 
she  said.     "  Who  is  this  Victoria  who  writes  to  you?  " 

"I  thought  the  letter  was  from  you:  it  was  evidently  intended  to 
give  me  that  impression." 

"  Could  you  believe  that  I  could  be  so  rude,  so  unkind  ?  Then,  you 
might  well  reply  that  you  could  not  expect  anything  better  of  me 
after  the  way  I  demeaned  myself  at  Breves;  but  I  have  changed 
since  then,  and  I  have  decided  that  a  selfish  life  is  of  all  lives  the 
most  miserable.  I  w^ant  to  choose  as  a  career  the  one  in  which  I  can 
be  of  the  most  use  in  the  world." 

"Will  you  let  me  suggest  one  way  in  which  you  may  be  a  true 
missionar\?  " 


1 88 


THREE    VASSAK   GIRLS  L\  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


'^^^^^ 


"I  tliink  I  know  what  \()u  mean.  You  arc  so  enthusiastic  over 
vour  profession  that  \ou  want  to  advise  me  to  study  medicine.  Well, 
prove  that  your  skill  can  be  of  service  in  tiie  present  juncture  and  I 
will  confess  that  yt)U  have  a  right  to  give  advice." 

"You  mean  that  you  will  consider  any  career  that  I  may  mark  out 
ior  vou  on  what  conditions?  "' 
''  That  you  cure  the  Professor." 

"I  fear  that  this  is  beyond  human  possibility.  We  can  build  up 
where   there  is  anything  left  to  build  upon.      I  know  of  no  remedy  in 

science  which  can  supply  the  life  pv'in- 
ciple  itself' 

"^  But  you  came  to  South  America  to 

discover    new    remedies     unknown    to 

science.     Have    you     lound    nothing? 

Did   you    see   the    old    witch    tliat    the 

Indian  woman  told  me  lived  at  Obidos 

and  could  cure  all  diseases?" 

"  I     found     her.     She    had    only  one 

rx^    medicine,    a  sort    of  charm.     I  wrote 

■''•  ^    ilown   the   ills  it  was  supposed  to  cure, 

and  purchased  it  of  her.     It  promised, 

however,  a  great  deal   too   much,   and 

I  have  no   faith  in    it.     I    assure    30U, 

"CO!"    VICTORIA   KXCLAIMKI).  ^vT'  "nv    1  i-l      ^  1  '    ^     1^ 

JNIiss  Delavan,  that  unless  a  mu-acle 
is  wrought  he   will   surely  die.'" 

There  Avas  a  low  cr}',  and  Delight,  who  stumbled  across  the 
threshold,  fell   into  Victoria's  arms. 

"Go,"  Victoria  exclaimed  to  the  startled  Doctor,  "3-ou  have  killed 
lier." 

"No,"  Delight  replied  bravely,  "but  there  is  a  change;  he  has 
fallen   into  a  strange  stupor,  and  mother  wants  you." 

Dr.  Stillman    hurried    awa}-.     As    he    crossed   the   plaza,   Brother 


HELP.  189 

Dennis  caught  him  by  the  sleeve.  '"Have  you  found  out,"  he  asi<.cd, 
"who  wrote  the  letter?" 

"No,"  he  replied,  ^'  but  she  did  not." 

"She,  which  she?" 

"Victoria  did  not  write  it,  bless  her,  at  least  if  1  can  cure  the  Pro- 
fessor; but  if  I  cannot,  it  is  possibly  all  the  same  as  if  she  did,"  ami, 
shading  off  his  comrade's  arm,  he  entered  the  sick  room. 

"Now  was  there  ever  such  a  maniac  as  that,"  mused  Brother 
Dennis,  "  if  he  can  cure  the  Professor,  Victoria  did  not  write  that 
letter;   if  he  cannot  she  did.     The  man  is  a  lunatic,  a  raving  lunatic." 


190  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

THE  DELECTABLE  MOUNTAINS. CUZCO. 

I  CANNOT  let  liim  go,"'  Delight  moaned,  as  the  two  girls  erept 
down  the  stairs  together.  '*I  have  felt  it  all  the  time  and  I 
ha\e  battled  against  it.  I  would  not  see;  1  would  not  understand. 
O  Victoria,  if  you  knew  wdiat  my  father  and  I  are  to  each  other  I "' 

"I  know,"  Victoria  replied,  '^  do  }ou  think  I  ha\  e  not  seen?  But 
you  must  think  of  him  as  well  as  yourselt".  Be  sure  God  will  do 
what  is  best  for  him.''  Her  own  voice  sounded  strange  to  Victoria. 
Delight  was  her  conscience,  her  standard  in  matters  of  religion.  .Vnd 
yet,  under  the  need  of  the  moment,  here  was  Victoria  guiding  her 
friend  to  a  fiith  in  (jod,  a  trust  in  his  infinite  loving-kindness,  ^\•hich 
she  hardi}'  knew  before  that  she  possessed. 

God  was  leading  Delight  in  a  w^ay  that  she  knew  not,  and  in  the 
Valley  of  the  Shadow  of  Death,  through  which  she  was  now  passing, 
she  was  being  disciplined  to  meet  the  inevitable  reality  when  it 
should  please  Him  to  send  it.  The  two  girls  stole  liand  in  hand  into 
the  sick  room. 

^'His  delirium  has  returned,"  said  Mrs.  Holmes.  "He  keeps  talk- 
ing about  the  mountains.  He  probablv  fancies  that  he  is  looking  for 
glaciers  in  the  Andes." 

"These  are  the  Delectable  ^^lountains,"  murmured  the  Professor, 
""and  they  are  within  sight  of  His  citw  You  know  one  of  the  hills 
was  called  '  Clear,'  and  from  it  thev  could  see  the  glory  of  the  place." 
He  talked  a  little  longer,  sometimes  incoherentl}',  but  ever}'  now  and 
then  they  could  distinguish  the  words  Delectable  Mountains.  After 
a  time  he  roused  again,  and  appeared  to  be  repeating  the  names  of 


Mrf^^^-^,/!   Jd/^^'T^ 


THE   DELECTABLE   MOUNTAINS.  — CUZCO.  1 03 

stones.  ^Nlrs.  Holmes  bent  lier  ear  to  his  laee.  "lie  is  making  notes 
of  strata,''  she  said.  The  Professor  shook  liis  licaci,  and  whispered 
more  distinctly,  "The  tirst  was  jasper;  the  second,  sapphire;  the 
third,  chalcedon}-;   the  fourth  an  emerald." 

"  He  is  dying,"  Delight  cried.  "It  is  the  heavenly  Jerusalem  which 
he  sees." 

"Pardon  me,"  said  the  Doctor  practically,  "he  is  not  d\-ini^-,  —  his 
pulse  is  normal,  his  breathing  easy.  It  is  only  extreme  weakness. 
He  has  overtaxed  his  mind  to-day  with  con£i:ratu latin cr  our  crood  cou- 
pie,  and  his  brain  is  weary  and  a  trifle  unbalanced,  but  there  is  no 
fever.  If  we  could  only  start  the  machinery  w'hich  is  running  down, 
and  perhaps  we  may  as  well  try  Justimiama's  remed}',  since  sup- 
plying strength  is  just  what  it  proposed  to  do."  The  Doctor  opened 
his  medicine  chest,  and  took  from  it  a  long  snake's  skin  filled  with  a 
dark  powder.  He  passed  the  skin  around  the  Professor's  neck,  then 
crossed  it  over  his  heart,  and  twice  around  his  chest.  "  There,"  he 
said,  "  let  him  wear  it  until  morning.  The  warmth  of  his  body  is 
supposed  to  waken  the  powerful  agencies  of  the  powdered  drugs,  and 
they  in  their  turn  w^ill  aftect  the  vital  organs." 

Victoria  watched  with  the  sick  man  that  night,  but  she  was  very 
W'Car}-,  and  as  he  breathed  regularly  she  fell  asleep.  She  was  awak- 
ened by  Delight,  who  threw  her  arms  about  her  in  the  early  morning. 
^'  Look  at  m}^  father!  "  she  cried.     "  Look  at  him  I  " 

Victoria  sprang  to  her  feet,  and  saw  the  Professor  sitting  up  in 
bed,  with  a  bright  look  illuminating  a  face  that  was  ruddy  with  re- 
turning health. 

"What  stimulant  have  you  given  me?"  he  asked.  "I  leel 
stronger  than  I  have  done  since  my  illness." 

The  Doctor  entered  soon  after,  and  appeared  as  surprised  as  he 
was  evidently  pleased.  "  I  will  explain  it  as  lar  as  I  can,"  he  said. 
"Miss  Delavan  mentioned  to  me,  when  we  were  at  Breves  together, 
that  she  had  heard  at  Para  of  an   old   Indian  witch   doctress  named 


194 


THREE    I'A^SAR   CiRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


Justimiama  dc  los  Rcis,  liviny  somcwhcie  near  Obidos.  Wlicn  I  was 
there  I  took  the  pains  to  searcli  lier  out,  and  to  buy  some  of  her 
reniedies  iVoni  her,  the  only  one  seemed  to  be  a  eertain  strength- 
giving  powder  administered  to  patients  as  a  tonie  in  eases  of  extreme 
weakness  following  protraeted  illness.  1  hardly  believed  in  its  effi- 
eaey  myself,  for  there  was  much  of  superstition  mingled  in  Justimi- 
ama's  account  of  its  preparation,  but  it  seems  to  have  had  a  revivifying 
effect  upon  you,  and  we  will  continue  its  use.'" 

The  cloud  was  lilted.  For  a  little  longer  the  Professor  was 
allowed  to  work  and  study  and  linger  with  the  hearts  which  clung  to 
him.  It  frequently  happens  that  a  soul  is  called  suddenl}*,  leaving  its 
life  work  only  begun,  its  friends  all  unprepared  for  the  parting;  but 
God  in  his  infinite  mercy  had  ordered  that  the  Professor  should  not 
be  called  away  until  the  results  of  this  trip  should  be  fully  arranged 
and  left  as  his  legacy  to  the  world.  In  this  brief  experience,  too, 
Delight  had  developed  from  a  shrinking  girl  to  a  resolute  Avoman. 
Something  of  light-hearted  carelessness  had  gone.  The  ivholeiiess 
of  life,  the  happy  security  and  confidence  that  the  present  state  of 
things  must  last  forever  had  vanished,  but  with  the  dread  realization 
of  the  certainty  of  death  there  had  come,  too,  a  higher  appreciation 
of  her  father's  character,  a  closer  knitting  of  their  souls  together,  and 
a  resolution  on  Delight's  part  to  be  more  to  him  while  he  lived,  and 
to  fit  herself  to  continue  his  work,  —  to  make  her  young  life  carry 
on  his  valuable  one  after  he  had  irone. 

The  morning  brought  the  Doctor  a  triple  pleasure.  The  Professor 
was  certainly  much  stronger;  he  was  dressed  and  sat  up  for  an  hour; 
and  the  recovery  of  the  Professor  meant  not  onl}'  the  saving  of  the 
life  of  one  good  man,  but  the  discovery  of  a  remedy  new  to  science, 
and  the  reward  promised  the  Doctor  in  the  Campanile  on  the  eve  of 
Philomena's  wedding. 

Justimiama's  powder  was  indeed  wonder-working.  In  three  days 
the   Professor  was  able  to   take  his  seat  in  the  saddle,  and   in   three 


THE  DELECTABLE  MOUNTAINS.  — CUZCO.  lor 

more  the  party  started  for  tlie  Andes.  It  was  fictitious  stren<'-th,  no 
doubt,  but  the  stimulus  histed  until  the  cool  mountain  breezes  supple- 
mented it  with  a  natural  tonic,  and  brought  back  \  ii^or  to  the  nerves 
and  muscles,  and  a  healthy  glow  to  the  faded  cheek. 

Philomena  and  Graciliano  accompanied  them,  and  Mr.  Jenkins 
also  made  one  of  the  party.  Before  leaving  Exaltacion  he  confided 
to  the  Doctor  that  under  ditierent  pretexts  he  had  examined  the 
chirography  of  every  member  of  the  party,  without  being  able  to 
discover  anything  like  the  Spencerian  flourish  of  Mr.  Bartlett's  hand. 
^"  I  have  lost  my  man,"  he  said  despairingly.  "  Somewhere  on  the 
route  he  has  left  them.  I  acknowledge  myself  baffled,  and  shall  now 
return  to  New  York.  I  have  already  nearl}'  traversed  the  continent, 
and  my  shortest  course  now  is  to  cross  the  Andes  w^ith  \ou,  and, 
leaving  you  somewhere  in  the  neighborhood  of  Lake  Titicaca,  embark 
at  Arequipa  for  Panama." 

The  Doctor  sighed, ''  And  I  must  do  the  same,"  he  said.  "The  Pro- 
fessor intends  to  follow  up  the  Andean  chains  into  Ecuador,  but  my 
allo\vance  for  travelling  expenses  is  already  overdrawn,  and,  much  as 
I  would  like  to  accompany  him,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  take  the  quicker 
route  for  home.  By  the  w^ay,"  he  remarked  suddenly,  '^'now  that  you 
acknowledge  your  absurd  suspicions  unlbunded,  T  insist  on  3-our 
abandoning  your  disguise  and  appearing  in  your  true  character." 

"They  have  all  penetrated  it,"  Mr,  Jenkins  replied  sheepishly. 
"  Miss  Victoria  was  the  first  to  suspect  me.  She  's  a  sharp,  quick 
one,  she  is.  ■  Mr.  Jenkins,'  she  said,  '  I  do  not  understand  why  you 
should  feel  it  necessary  to  disguise  3'oursell'  from  us,  but  since  you 
think  best  to  do  so,  I  \vill  keep  your  secret."  'Thank  you.  Ma'am,'  I 
replied,  'you  are  very  kind:'  and  then  I  was  fool  enough  to  ask 
Miss  ^Nlaud  to  let  me  look  at  the  Professor's  note-books,  pretend- 
ing that  I  wished  to  compare  his  discoveries  with  some  made  by 
the  early  Jesuits, —  Padre  Cristoval,  or  Padre  goodness  knows  who. 
I  had  a  scrap  from  one  of  Gold  &  Glitter's  account-books,  which  I 


TC)6  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

placed  beside  the  Professor's  hieroglyphics.  The}-  were  no  more 
ahke  than  an  operatic  score  is  to  a  cuneiform  inscription.  But  lier 
sharp  eyes  saw  what  I  was  about,  and  she  read  otf'  as  ghbly  as  you 
please,  '  Gold  &  Glitter,  in  account  with  Baring  Brothers,'  etc. 
'Mr.  Jenkins,'  says  she,  'do  you  mean  to  imply  that  you  suspect 
that  heavenly  man,  the  Professor.'' '  '' Oh  no,  Miss,'  I  replied,  ^  but 
here  is  a  bit  of  Mr.  Bartlett's  handwriting,  and  it  resembles  very 
much  a  communication  addressed  to  Dr.  Stillman,  which  must  have 
come  from  some  one  in  your  company,  so  you  may  judge  lor  your- 
self what  cause  I  have  for  my  investigations.'  ^  There  is  no  one  with 
us  who  writes  like  that,'  she  said,  examining  the  characters  verv 
carefully.  '  If  you  will  give  me  this  scrap  of  paper  I  w^ill  do  m}'  best 
to  ascertain  the  wriLer  of  the  letter  of  which  you  speak.  I  have  my 
own  reasons  for  wishing  to  know.'  '  Certainly,  Miss,'  I  replied,  ^  and 
meantime,' — 'Meantime,  I  will  keep  3'our  secret."  The  next  to  tind 
me  out  was  ]Mrs.  Holmes.  She  suspected  me  when  I  would  not 
marry  the  Indian  couple.  Miss  Delight  was  the  most  unsuspicious 
of  all,  but  the  night  that  we  all  thought  her  father  would  not  live  she 
caught  me  by  the  arm  and  asked  me  to  come  in  and  read  the  prayers 
for  the  dymg.  '  I  can't,'  said  I.  '  I  'm  not  such  a  hypocrite  as  that.' 
^  I  know  30U  are  not  of  the  same  communion,'  she  went  on,  *"  but 
there  is  no  clergyman  here,  and  you  are  both  Christians.  Surely  yoil 
cannot  refuse  to  speak  to  him  of  Jesus  and  support  him  through  this 
terrible  hour.  Your  religion  does  not  forbid  you  to  pray  for  him, 
does  it?'  'No,  indeed,'  said  I,  '^  and  I  do  pray  for  him  with  all  my 
heart.'  '  Then,  come  wnth  me,'  she  pleaded,  and  I,  I  could  n't  stand  it 
another  minute.  'Miss  Delight,'  said  I,  '^  don't  you  know  me?'  She 
gave  me  a  wild  look.  '  O,  Mr.  Jenkins,'  she  cried,  'now  I  know  why 
you  have  been  so  kind;  we  have  another  friend  wnth  us.'  She  did  n't 
resent  my  coming  like  the  other  girls,  and  I  felt  a  thousand  times 
meaner  than  I  have  ever  felt  in  the  entire  course  of  my  profession." 
Mr.  Jenkins,  after  this,  appeared  as  the  photographer,  carrying  his 


THE   DELECTABLE  MOUXTALXS.-- CUZCO. 


197 


sneak-box  before  him  on  the  pommel  ol"  liis  saddle.     His  beard  had 
begun  to  grow,  giving  him  a  bristling  and  savage  look,  but  his  heart 


GATES    HEWN    IN    THE    ROCK. 


had  been  won  by  Delight's  kindness,  and  he  constituted  himself  her 
especial  cavalier. 

It  would  take  too  long  to  tell  of  their  journey,  through  gates  hewn 
in  the  rock  as  by  supernatural  power,  to  the  wonderful  Andean 
ranges.      They  floated  on    lonely   streams,  brushed    only    b}^   white 


ICfH  THREE   VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

cranes  and  tlic  Indian's  paddle;  they  camped  under  groNcs  of  tama- 
rind trees,  and  joined  a  mule  train  across  the  desolate  pampas,  reach- 
m<y  at  last  the  noble  Serras,  snow-crowned  and  sil\  er-hearted.  They 
visited  more  than  one  silver  mine  between  Santa  Cruz  and  Cocha- 
bamba,  and  Victoria  purchased  several  pieces  of  table  service,  chat- 
in*^  dishes,  and  graceful  pitchers  decorated  by  native  workmen. 
Their  longest  pause  was  made  at  La  Paz,  the  commercial  metro- 
polis of  Bolivia,  whose  tile-roofed  houses  nestle  at  the  foot  of  the 
snow-crowned  lUimani.  Here  they  found  European  residents  and 
French  fashions,  a  theatre,  a  museum,  and  much  of  the  activity  of 
business.  The  alameda  or  public  park  was  the  fashionable  resort 
before  breakfast^  the  ladies  of  the  city  appearing  on  the  promenade 
at  that  time  in  ball  costumes,  with  white  kid  gloves  and  satin  slippers. 
The  Bolivian  ladies  were  graceful  and  fearless  horsewomen.  Slender, 
pale  and  sweet,  they  reminded  Maud  of  the  tube-roses  which  grew  so 
plentifully  in  their  gardens,  and  whose  carven  blossoms  almost  inva- 
riably decorated  their  jetty  braids,  tucked  coquettishly  just  behind 
the  ear. 

Over  the  dr}'  table-lands  they  now  rode  to  the  heart  of  the  Andes,  the 
grand  procession  stretching  to  the  north  and  south,  peak  alter  peak 
shouldering  each  other  away  in  magnificent  perspective.  They  saw 
the  peaks  burning  with  sunset  or  touched  with  the  tender  beauty  of 
dawn,  they  watched  the  condor  fluttering  over  horrible  precipices, 
and  trains  of  llamas  threading  dizzy  passes.  They  sailed  across 
dreary  Lake  Titicaca,  once  the  site  of  the  pleasure  palaces  of  the 
Incas,  now  a  waste  of  tombs,  and  rested  a  few  days  at  the  little  town 
of  Puno  on  their  way  to  the  royal  city  of  Cuzco. 

The  way  was  long,  but  to  the  Doctor  it  seemed  cruelly  short,  for  at 
Cuzco  it  was  now  decided  that  Mr.  Jenkins  and  he  were  to  separate 
from  the  others.  The  entire  journey  was  a  triumphal  march  to  the 
Professor,  his  cure  was  complete,  and  w^ith  every  step  he  grew 
stronger   and    apparently  more  3'outhful,  but    the    Doctor    saw  with 


THE  DELECTABLE  AfOC'A'TA/.\S.  —  CL/ZCO.  20I 

some  disappointment  that  Victoria  had  taken  lor  granted  that  tlie 
career  which  he  wished  to  propose  to  her  was  that  of  a  student  of 
medicine. 

''At  Cuzco,"  he  said  to  himself,  "I  must  'put  it  to  tlie  test  and  win 
or  lose  it  all."'  But  Victoria  made  the  task  of  approacliing  the 
subject  a  very  difficult  one.  Whenever  he  spoke  of  the  future  slie 
turned  the  conversations  so  easily  from  a  sentimental  to  a  scientific 
tone. 

"I  mean  to  pursue  my  professional  studies  in  Switzerland,"  slic 
said.  ^'  Let  me  see;  where  is  that  medical  school  for  women  ?  Zurich 
or  Geneva?  I  really  think  3-()u  ought  to  be  satisfied.  Dr.  Stillman. 
You  have  succeeded  in  bringing  me  over  to  your  theories  of  life,  its 
seriousness  and  responsibility.'' 

■^That  is  a  great  deal,  I  confess,"  he  replied. 

"And  you  have  made  at  least  one  startling  discover}-  in  medicine 
which  is  going  to  be  famous.  Now  confess  that  your  trip  to  the 
South  has  been  widely  successful." 

"  More  so  than  I  could  have  dreamed." 

"And  you  are  a  perfectly  satisfied  man?" 

"I  would  be  if"— 

"Oh,  ^//' —  So  would  everybody  if —  For  my  part,  I  think  you 
are  very  unreasonable.  Now  I  am  satisfied,  perfectly.  I  am  going 
straight  back  to  Vassar  to  finish  my  education.  I  shall  study  all  the 
harder,  now  that  I  have  a  special  object  in  view.  There  are  so  many 
things  to  learn,  and  so  little  time  in  which  to  learn  them,  even  if  one 
aspires  to  be  only  generally  educated.  I  think  our  college  course 
is  entirely  too  short.  What  can  one  learn  of  history,  for  instance,  in 
four  years?  How  long  did  Prescott  study  before  he  wrote  his  'Con- 
quest of  Peru'?" 

"And  yet  it  has  not  taken  us  long  to  read  the  result  of  his  study." 

"How  we  ouo-ht  to  honor  such  men  for  making  the  obscure  pas- 
sages  of  our  history  so  easily  attainable.     What  would  this   imperial 


202 


THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  IX  SOi'TH  AMERICA. 


city  of  the  Incas  mean  to  us  A\ithoiit  the  introduction  wliicli  tliat  fas- 
cinating book  gives  to  us?  And  to  think  that  we  are  to  see  the  ruins 
of  tlic  palaces  and  temples  of  the  Incas.  It  is  certainly  the  most 
wonderful  city  in  the  new  world." 

^'  It  lias  been  called  the  Rome  of  South  America." 
'■  It  seems  to  me  more  like  Egypt.     The  cyclopean  walls  of  dark 
stone  —  granite  or  porphyry,  the   Professor  says,  blackened  by  time, 

seem  to  me  as  solemn 
and  as  venerable  as  the 
I^yramids." 

^*  There  is  something 
Egyptian,  too,  in  the  cast 
of  features  of  the  Inca 
dynasty." 

"  Yes,  the}^  were  the 
Pharaohs  of  Peru." 

"And  Pizarro  was  Mo- 
ses?" 

"No,  indeed,  I  think 
the  invasion  of  the  Span- 
iards a  long  stor}'  of  cru- 
elty and  treachery.  Why 
could  n't  Charles  V.  have 
been  contented  with  his 
Sevillian  gardens,  and  have  left  the  nati\  e  monarchs  in  possession  ol 
their  pleasure  grounds  and  terraces  in  the  valley  of  the  Yucay." 

"And  }et  is  there  not  a  spirit  of  romance  in  the  story  of  Pizarro's  ' 
adventures?  He  sailed,  you  know,  with  only  a  handful  of  compan- 
ions from  Panama,  —  a  forlorn  hope  to  explore  the  coast  of  Peru. 
He  found  a  wealthy  and  powerful  nation,  and,  returning  to  Spain,  ob- 
tained a  patent  from  Charles  V.  to  conquer  the  country,  which  was 
effected  with  only  an  insignificant  company  of  adventurers." 


W&i^'^'^ 


INCA    MUAVNA    OCAPAI. 


THE   DELECTADLF   MOLWTAIXS.  —  CiZCO. 


203 


"You   Ibrget  that  ho    took    acKantaoc   of   cli.;.;cnsions   bcLW.-en   the 

ro3'al  brothers,  and  ineited  one  political  party  ai^^ainst  another,  obtain- 

ini;-  liis  desires  at  last  by  perjidy  in- 
stead of  by  law  fill  eoncpiest.  I  could 
Ibrgive  Pizarro  but  ibi-  his  treachery 
to  poor  Atahualpa." 

Their  sta}-  at  Cuzco  was  one  of 
great  interest.  'i'he\-  \  is- 
ited  the  chuich  at  Si.  Do- 
mingo, built  on  the  ruins 
of  the  Tenijile  of  the  Sun, 
and  made  excursions  to 
fortresses  "on  dizzy  crags 
and  forbidding  passes." 
The  more  that  they  saw 
ol  the  ancient  remains, 
whether  of  architecture, 
sculpture,  or   pottery,  the 

more  they  wondered  at  the   height  to  which  ciNJlization  had  arrived  in 

a  race  surrounded  on   all   sides   by  untutored 

savages.     "  I  wash  we  could  have  seen   some 

of  the  golden  and  silver  vases  which  adorned 

the  temples  and  palaces,"  Maud  said.     "  I  can't 

forgive    Pizarro  for    melting  them 

up  so  ruthlessl}-.      Only  think!   the 

gold    distributed    as    booty   to    the 

Spanish     soldiers     on     the     taking 

of   Cuzco    amounted    in    value    to 

fifteen     millions     of     dollars,     and        :.. 

much     of      this      was      curiously 

wrought    in    jewelry   and    objects 

of  art." 


INCA    TUPAC   YUPANGRU. 


l>.. 


INCA    VLPAKRUI. 


204 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


^'  What  seems   stranLjc  to   me,''   said  Delight,  '^  is  that  the\'   eoulcl 
liave  done  so  much  without  iron." 

^'Silver  must  liave  taken  its  place.     You  know  Pizarro  caused   his 
horses  to  be  shod  with  silver,  for  lack  of  the  stronger  metal.'"' 

^' The  Peruvians  had  no  horses,  and 
when  the  natives  first  saw  the  Span- 
ish cavaliers  they  imagined  that  horse 
and  rider  were  one  animal, —  terrible 
centaurs,  with  power  to  command  the 
lightning  and  the  thunder  with  clumsy 
blunderbusses." 

"These  ruins  have  such  a  Titanic 
and  ancient  look,"  said  Victoria,  '"'"that 
I  can  scarcely  realize  that  the  taking 
of  Cuzco  by  Pizarro  occurred  as 
late  as  1533,  and  that  the  last  de- 
scendant of  the  Incas  was  cruelly 
executed  in  our  owji  century." 

The  Professor  was  of  the  opinion 
that  man}'  of  the  immense  ruins  not 
only  out-dated  the  Spanish  conquest, 
but  were  contemporaneous  with  some 
of  the  remains  in  Egypt  and  Persia. 
The}'  found  much  to  entertain  them 
in  modern  Cuzco,  its  churches  and  convents,  as  well  as  in  the  sou- 
venirs of  the  past.  There  was  the  Cathedral  with  its  two  bell-towers, 
and  the  pretty  legend  in  regard  to  the  missing  bell.  Two  bells  of 
the  same  size  had  been  cast  for  these  towers  and  christened  respec- 
tively INIaria  and  Magdalcna.  But  the  ship  bearing  the  Magdalena 
foundered  at  sea,  and  now^,  when  the  Maria  tolls  or  sends  forth  a  joy- 
ous peal,  the  fishermen  say  that  they  can  hear  her  sister  chiming  ar» 
answer,  though  buried  deep  beneath  the  sea. 


EFFIGY. 


THE  DELECTABLE  MOUMALXS.— CUZCO. 


207 


They  saw  the  great  elligies  which,  on  the  lestixal  of  the  Scnor  dc 
/as  Teinblores  (Christ  of  the  Earthquakes),  parade  the  eitw  They 
were  nut  unlike  tlie  images  used  lor  the  same  j)urj)ose  in  I*assion 
week   in   Seville. 

Maud  made  a  note  ot"  the  imbecile  creatures.  San  lUas,  iVom  whom 
a  quarter  in  the  cit}'  is  named,  was 
dressed  like  a  Spanish  courtier  of 
the  time  of  Charles  V.,  with  an 
angel  attendant  perched  upon  a 
spiral  spring,  shading  his  saintship 
with  a  pink  silk  parasol.  Nearly 
all  of  the  tigures  were  arranged 
with  these  springs,  which  gives 
them  a  swaying,  bobbing  motion 
as  their  litters  are  carried  through 
the  streets.  San  Benito  follows 
next  in  the  procession,  —  a  negro 
saint  resembling  Brudder  Bones; 
and  next  comes  Saint  Christopher,  ; 
leaning  on  a  palm-tree  stalT,  and 
costumed  like  an  Assyrian  king. 
Then  follows  St.  Joseph,  the  car- 
penter, dressed  like  a  Carmelite 
monk,    and    carrying    a    saw  as  a 

symbol  of  his  craft.  Next  appears  the  effigy  of  the  Blessed  Virgin, 
a  wax  doll  in  the  toilette  of  an  empress,  loaded  with  jewels,  her  blund 
hair  curled  and  powdered,  and  a  fan  in  her  dainty  hand.  Her  dress 
is  embroidered  with  pearls,  a  collar  of  rubies  supports  her  immense 
lace  ruff,  and  her  diadem  is  of  immense  value.  Her  glass  eyes  arc 
contrived  by  clock-work  to  revolve  rapidly,  and  so  she  progresses, 
curtesying,  ogling,  while  the  crowd  shriek  their  admiration.  The 
most  horrible  image  of  all  is  the  Christ,  stretched  upon  a  cross,  black- 


KFFKiV 


208 


THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  I\  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


cncd  by  ai^c,  liaxini;-  nc\er  been  retouched  since  the  Emperor  Charles 
sent  it  iVoni  Cadi:'.,  as  liideous  as  an  idol,  and  draped  \vith  a  tawdry 
petticoat  ol'  lace,  looped  by  a  ribbon. 

^' Tell  me,"  said  Maud,  "was  the  ancient  Sun  worship  of  the  Peru- 
vians Averse  than  this  idolatry?" 

^'  It  is  possible,"  replied  the   Professor,  "  that  when  we  consider  all 

its  degrading  features  we  must  confess 
that  ic  was.  The  religious  legends,  though 
many  of  them  poetical,  were  manifestly 
invented  to  give  divine  authority  to  the 
rei«:n  of  the  Incas.  Accordino-  to  tradi- 
tion  the  time  was  when  the  ancient  races 
were  plunged  in  barbarism.  The  Sun, 
taking  compassion  on  their  degraded  con- 
dition, sent  two  of  his  children,  Manco 
Capac  and  INIama  Oella  Iluaco  to  gather 
the  natives  into  ^communities  and  teach 
them  the  arts  of  civilized  life.  They  bore 
with  them  a  golden  wedge,  and  were  di- 
rected to  take  up  their  residence  on  the 
spot  where  the  sacred  emblem  should 
without  effort  sink  into  the  ground.  At 
Cuzco  the  wedge  sank  into  the  earth  and 
disappeared  forever.  Here  the  children 
of  the  Sun  established  their  residence,  and 
entered  upon  their  beneficent  mission,  and 
became  the  ancestors  of  the  Incas." 

So  the  days  slipped  b}'  and  the  time  came  when  the  Professor  was 
anxious  to  continue  his  journey  to  Lima  and  the  north,  and  Mr. 
Jenkins  was  impatient  to  embark.  Circumstances  favored  the  Doctor 
and,  just  before  he  left,  gave  him  the  opportunit}'  which  he  sought. 
The  environs  of  Cuzco  furnish  much  that  is  interesting,  and  they  had 


EFFIGY. 


THE  DELECTABLE   MOUNTAINS.  — CUZCO.  211 

made  a  number  of  excursions  from  tlicir  luclgin<;s  in  the  queer  liule 
house  in  the  Calle  de  las  Ilehideiras,  or  street  of  slierbets  and  ices. 
One  of  tlie  most  enjoyable  of  these  was  to  the  J^\)rtress  of  Sacsaluia- 
man,  whose  Titanic  terraces  might  have  ser\  ed  as  the  foundations  for 
the  Tower  of  Babel.  Their  last  excursion  was  to  the  Convent  of 
Recolletta,  and  to  a  gorge  in  the  mountains  called  the  Ladder  to 
Heaven.  They  had  picnicked  in  the  valley;  Maud  was  sketching; 
the  Professor  and  Mrs.  Holmes  resting, —  when  their  guide  told  them 
of  a  famous  old  tree  a  little  further  on  toward  San  Sebastian,  called 
the  "Tree  of  Farewells."  "When  any  one  leaves  Cuzco,  his  relations 
and  friends  accompany  him  as  far  as  this  tree/'  said  the  man,  "  and 
then  bid  him  God  speed,  and  all  who  there  part  in  friendship  are  sure 
to  meet  again.  It  is  a  very  ancient  tree.  It  was  planted  by  the  Inca 
Capac  Yupanqui." 

"I  would  like  to  take  a  photograph  of  it,''  said  Mr.  Jenkins. 

"Let  us  ride  over  and  bid  the  Doctor  and  Mr.  Jenkins  bo)i  voyage 
under  its  shadow,"  Delight  sugorested. 

"You  and  Victoria  can  go,"  said  Mrs.  Holmes,  "we  will  await  you 
here." 

Arrived  under  the  tree  Mr.  Jenkins  posed  Victoria  and  the  Doctor 
in  the  act  of  bidding  each  other  farewell,  while  he  retired  to  a  little 
distance  to  bring  them  into  focus.  Then  Victoria  and  the  Doctor 
photographed  Delight  and  Mr.  Jenkins,  and,  having  each  plucked  a 
leaf  of  the  magical  tree  as  a  souvenir,  they  turned  the  noses  of  their 
mules  toward  the  convent.  What  possessed  the  fleet  little  animal 
upon  which  Delight  rode?  It  scrambled  over  the  ground  in  a  perfect 
fury  of  impatience,  followed  by  Mr.  Jenkins,  who,  lashing  his  own 
beast  as  best  he  might,  could  only  approach  within  a  few  }ards,  while 
Victoria  and  the  Doctor  were  left  far  behind.  It  was  then  that  the 
Doctor  saw  and  seized  his  opportunity. 

"Victoria,"  he  said,  "3'ou  know  that  the  charm  goes  for  nothing 
unless  we  really  wish  to  meet  again." 


2  12  THREE    VASSAR    GIRLS  I\  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

'^  I  'm  sure  I  wish  it,  don't  you?  ''  she  replied. 

"That  depends  upon  the  answer  you  make  to  this  question.  You 
have  done  me  great  honor  ah'eady;  will  }ou  make  me  still  happier 
by  eonsenting  some  day  to  be  my  wile  ?  " 

Victoria  reined  in  her  mule  and  looked  at  the  Doctor  with  un- 
feigned astonishment.     "  Wlw,  you  are  just  like  the  rest,"  she  said. 

"And  are  you  going  to  give  me  the  same  answer  which  you  ha\e 
given  'the  rest'?     Tell  me  at  least  that  3-ou  will  think  it  over." 

"That  is  precisely  what  I  have  always  told  the  others,  and  the 
more  I  thought  about  it  the  less  I  liked  the  idea." 

"  Then,  Victoria,  accept  me  without  thinking  about  it." 

"  I  can't  under  the  circumstances.  You  know  ^  It  is  well  to  be  off 
with  the  old  love,  before  one  is  on  with  the  new.'  " 

"  Then  I  am  to  understand  that  you  are  already  engaged  ?  " 

"No!  I'm  only  ^thinking  it  over,'  and,  as  I  told  you,  I  don't  like 
it.  But  I  could  n't  think  of  your  case  at  the  same  time;  it  would  n't 
'  be  honest  and  true.'  " 

"  You  might  set  down  my  name  as  a  possible  candidate  for  the 
situation  when  next  it  falls  vacant." 

"Don't  speak  with  such  infinite  scorn.  I  am  not  to  blame,  am  I,  if 
people  ask  me  to  consider  such  things." 

"You  might  at  least  decline  to  encourage  them." 

"  So  I  do.  I  decline  to  encourage  you,  but  it  does  not  seem  to 
please  you.  Come,  Dr.  Stillman,  you  have  asked  me  in  what  wa}' 
Vassar  girls  are  different  from  others  differently  educated.  This  i^ 
one  of  their  peculiarities,  —  the}' are  more  cautious  in  taking  a  step 
of  this  kind.  We  are  more  sufficient  to  ourselves,  less  dependent 
upon  marriage  in  every  way,  and  more  exigeante^ 

"  I  see  you  do  not  care  for  me,  or  you  could  not  be  so  coolly 
calculating." 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  Dr.  Stillman,  I  do  care  for  you;  so  much  so 
that  I  am   not  willing  you  should   betroth  yourself  to  a  half-hearted 


THE   DELECTABLE   MOUXTALXS.  —  CUZCO.  21- 

girl.  You  have  been  very  good  to  me,  and  I  cannot  trille  witli  you. 
You  have  my  unqualitied  respect  and  esteem.  You  have  wakened 
my  sense  of  accountability,  my  mental  and  moral  energies,  but  you 
have  not  wakened  my  heart,  —  perhaps  I  ha\e  none.  Your  work 
has  been  successful.  When  you  consider  the  material  you  ought  to 
be  content.  No,  you  only  imagine  that  you  love  me,"  she  added,  as 
she  noticed  the  look  of  keen  anguish  in  the  young  man's  face.  "  I 
have  heard  that  young  physicians  are  apt  to  feel  a  deep  interest  in 
their  lirst  patients,  which  is  never  experienced  for  later  ones.  I  have 
been  your  tirst  patient.  You  have  cured  me  of  lassitude  and  inditler- 
ence  to  the  real  objects  of  life.  I  've  no  doubt  you  will  do  the  same 
for  others  without  fancying  3'ourself  in  love  with  them.  You  are  my 
true  friend,  and  I  give  you  my  hand  again,  as  I  did  under  the  parting 
tree,  wishing  you  for  all  your  life  a  hearty  bon  voyaf^e.^^ 

According  to  the  correct  thinir  in  romances  the  Doctor  should  have 
pressed  Victoria's  hand  to  his  lips  at  this  juncture,  but  he  could  not 
get  his  refractor}-  mule  near  enough  even  to  take  it,  and  he  contented 
himself  with  doing  it  in  imagination. 

The  next  morning  he  departed  with  Mr.  Jenkins  for  Arequipa,  and 
the  Professor  and  his  charge  took  the  broad  road  of  the  Incas  for  the 
north.  It  was  noticed  by  her  companions  that  Victoria  was  absent- 
minded  and  silent.  In  reality  she  was  submitting  herself  to  severe 
self-criticism.  "I  have  not  treated  him  like  the  rest,"  she  said  to 
herself,  '"^w^hich  proves  that  I  do  not  feel  toward  him  as  I  do  to  the 
rest.  I  have  alwa3's  been  reasonable,  and  told  them  that  I  would 
consider  the  matter,  ascertaining  in  due  time  that  I  did  not  care  ior 
them  a  particle.  I  have  been  unreasonable  with  Dr.  Stillman  and 
dismissed  him  without  the  least  consideration.  Docs  that  prove  that 
I  perversely  do  care  for  him  a  little?  If  it  does,  all  I  have  to  say  is 
that  it  is  quite  too  late.'' 


214 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


IN  THE  HEART  OF  A  VOLCANO. 


THE  road  on  which  they  were  now  travelling  was  cut  out  of  the 
mountains  from  ten  to  ele\cn  thousand  feet  above  tlie  level  of 
the  sea,  three  thousand  feet  higher  than  the  Flospice  of  St.  Bernard, 
and  yet  for  some  distance  from  Cuzco,  instead  of  an  Alpine  region  of 
perpetual  snow,  they  journeyed  through  fertile  valie3S  and  luxur- 
iant forests.  Notable  among  the  new  vegetation  were  the  Rhexia, 
or  king  of  shrubs.  Its  immense  violet  flowers  were  not  more  cur- 
ious than  its  variegated  stem  and  its  leaves,  green  above  and  lined 
with  orange.  They  passed  through  cinchona  forests,  from  whose 
bark  the  great  staple  remedy,  quinine,  is   manufactured. 

"Do  you  suppose  the  Incas  used  it?  "  Maud  asked. 

"Possibly,"  the  Professor  replied,  "but  its  good  qualities  were  only 
announced  to  the  world  in  1638  by  the  Countess  of  Cinchon,  the  wife 
of  the  Spanish  viceroy." 

Their  road  led  them  at  times  b}'  the  side  of  roaring  cataracts.  The 
Apurimac,  the  principal  of  the  Peruvian  rivers,  is  flanked  for  a  part 
of  its  course  with  fluted  shafts,  and  walls  of  basaltic  formation,  forming 
tall  clifls  and  caiions  through  which  the  yellow  waters  foam  and 
swirl.  Nothing  could  have  been  more  beautiful  than  this  enchanted 
region;  but  with  Victoria's  distrust  of  the  wisdom  of  her  decision 
there  sprang  up  in  her  a  demon  of  doubt  which  poisoned  for  a  time 
her  friendship  for  Maud.  It  was  caused  by  the  forged  letter  which 
the  Doctor  had  left  in  her  possession.  Who  could  have  written  it 
was  a  question  which  she  had  asked  herself  again  and  again  without 
obtaining  any  light.      Someone   had   done  so  who   had  first  read  the 


IN   THE   HEART  OF  A    IVLCAAO.  3ir 

Doctor's  letter  to  lier,  and  who  wislied  to  make  iiiischier  between 
.them.  She  could  not  attribute  such  an  action  to  either  of  her  old 
friends,  Delight  or  her  mother,  but  Maud  was  more  of  a  stranger. 
^Nlaud  had  always  expressed  open  admiration  lor  the  Doctor;  was  it 
not  possible  that  she  had  done  this  thing  through  envy  and  jealousy? 
So,  while  her  heart  was  troubled  with  the  greater  discontent,  this 
little  canker-worm  of  suspicion  fed  and  fattened,  and  poisoned  all  the 
delightful  present. 

At  Cuzco  they  had  been  joined  by  an  agreeable  travelling  com- 
panion, a  Mr.  Hartley  from  the  United  States,  who  had  come  to 
South  America  as  a  newspaper  correspondent  to  report  the  war 
between  Chili  and  Peru,  but  who  had  remained  out  of  love  for  the 
country  and  a  slight  interest  in  some  silver  mines.  He  had  made 
himself  an  encyclopaedia  of  information,  and  long  and  interesting 
were  his  disquisitions  on  guano  and  politics,  topics  which  X'ictoria 
declared  were  equally  disagreeable.  He  had  examined  the  Chilian 
fleet  and  pronounced  the  countr}'  able  to  blockade  the  PaciHc  ports 
of  the  United  States  at  any  time.  The  Professor  and  he  had  many 
an  argument  over  the  reduction  of  the  United  States,  the  Prolessor 
asserting  that  the  glor}'  of  our  country  was  in  her  weakness  as  a 
military  power,  and  that  war  was  a  relic  of  barbarism.  The  rest  ot' 
the  party  found  Mr.  Hartley  extremely  amusing,  for  he  was  a  keen 
observer  and  a  racy  stor3'-teller.  He  had  made  many  acquaintances 
during  his  stay  in  the  country,  and  he  asked  their  permission  to  intro- 
duce them  to  a  certain  Seiior  and  Seiiora  Chrysostomo  Nepom- 
uceno  Palacido  Joaquim  do  Santo  Thyrso  y  Mirandella  who  resided 
at  Qiiito.  "^  I  shall  certainly  die  of  an  indigestion  of  these  long 
names,""'  Victoria  had  asserted;  but  Maud,  who  enjoyed  foreigners, 
was  sure  that  it  would  be  pleasant  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  some 
Spanish  Americans  as  well  as  of  the  Brazilians,  who,  being  of  Portu- 
guese extraction,  preserved  certain  race  diflbrcnces  as  well  as  pe- 
culiarities arising  from  ditierent  surroundings. 


2l6  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  JX  SOUTH  A. ^T ERIC  A. 

They  followed  the  <j:rc;it  Inc:i  road,  the  same  over  which  Plzarro 
marched  to  the  conquest  of  Cuzco,  as  far  as  tlie  town  of  Oroya,  travel- 
ling by  mule-train.  Here  ibr  the  tirst  time  in  their  South  American 
journey  they  were  able  to  enjoy  the  conveniences  of  transportation 
by  railroad,  and  a  North  American  railroad  at  that.  From  Callao 
through  Lima,  across  the  western  range  of  the  Andes,  a  railroad  has 
been  built  by  the  enterprise  of  Mr.  Meigs,  an  engineer  from  the 
United  States.  It  has  been  well  described  in  Scribner's  ]Maf^azine 
by  Mr.  J.  Eglinton  Montgomery  as  a  railroad  in  the  clouds.  Over 
this  wonderful  line  the  party  now  passed,  playing  liide  and  seek  with 
the  roaring,  rushing  Rimac,  down  whose  valle}'  the  road  ran,  cross- 
ing the  river  again  and  again,  doubling,  winding  to  avoid  steep 
grades,  gliding  along  dizzy  trestle  work  which  showed  like  spiders' 
webs  across  the  gorges,  plunging  into  tunnels,  crossing  viaducts^ 
dashing  down  terrible  inclines  in  their  swift  descent  from  the  eternal 
snows  to  the  sea  level. 

At  the  very  summit  of  the  Andes  they  entered  the  Tunel  de  la 
Cima,  only  136  feet  lower  than  Mont  Blanc,  and  3,847  feet  long. 
Snowy  peaks  were  all  around  them;  the  region  was  one  of  Alpine 
grandeur  and  desolation.  After  leaving  the  tunnel  thev  zigzagged 
down  the  valley,  watching  the  peasants  stumbling  down  the  lad- 
der-like passes,  dri\ing  their  llamas  to  market  laden  ^vith  produce,, 
and  trudging  beside  them  on  foot  rather  than  pa}'  the  fare  on  the 
railroad.  Cactus  now  sprang  up  on  the  sunny  slopes  in  pillar-like 
stalks  adorned  with  scarlet  tassels.  Further  down  they  passed 
across  "  Los  Infiernillos,"  or  Little  Hells,  where  the  river  threaded 
a  chasm  walled  b}'  perpendicular  masses  of  porplnrv,  1,000  to  1,500 
feet  high. 

They  looked  out  upon  straw-thatched  adobe  huts,  where  dwelt  the 
^'Children  of  the  Mist,""  and  at  one  point  in  their  descent  passed 
through  so  many  successive  peaks  that  the}'  threaded  twenty-two 
tunnels  in  a  distance  of  only  fifteen  miles.     Maud's  eyes  glowed  with 


THE   AI'URIMAC. 


/\   THE   HEART  OF  A    VOLCANO. 


2U) 


excitement  tor  sho  had 
accepted  a  ride  in  the 
engine  which  tlie  others 
had  refused.  She  dc- 
chned  Mr.  Hartley's 
support,  but  folded  her 
arms  tightly  as  the  train 
seemed  to  plunge 
straight  down  to  de- 
struction. When  they 
slackened  speed  and 
conversation  was  pos- 
sible, she  turned  to  her 
companion  with  the  ex- 
clamation, "  It  is  like 
being  hurled  from  the 
cannon's  mouth!  I 
never  experienced  so 
glorious  a  sensation." 

They  remained  only 
three  days  at  Lima, 
for  the  Professor  did 
not  care  for  sight-see- 
ing, and  the  volcanoes 
clustering  around  Qiiito 
awa3'in  the  North,  drew 
his  heart  like  a  magnet. 
Their  drives  around  the 
Ciudad  de  los  Reyes, 
or  City  of  the  Kings, 
showed  them  adobe 
houses      built      around 


ANDEAN    I'KAKS. 


2  20  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

rci^ular  s(|u:ircs  and  with  some  pretence  to  architecture.  The  Catlie- 
dral,  especiallv,  Avas  suggestix  ely  Moorish,  and  the  long  colonnades 
skirting  three  sides  of  tiic  nine-acre  Plaza  ]Ma3'or  were  co(j1  and 
shady.  They  \isited  Pizarro's  palace  and  the  University  of  San 
Marco,  with  its  w'onderful  wood  carving,  on  the  Plaza  de  la  Inqui- 
sicion. 

Their  next  stop  was  at  Callao,  celebrated  for  its  earthquakes  and  its 
fortress,  and  from  this  point  took  passage  on  a  steamer  of  the  Pacific 
Mail  Line  for  Guayaquil.  It  was  during  this  short  voyage  that  Maud 
felt  Victoria's  coldness  and  perceived  that  something  was  wrong- 
She  attempted  to  be  gracious  and  chatt}',  but  Victoria  repulsed 
her  advances;  and  ]\Iaud,  hurt  and  a  little  indignant  at  this  unjust 
and  seemingly  capricious  behavior,  retired  within  herself,  and,  devot- 
ing herself  to  her  sketching,  allowed  her  attention  to  be  occupied 
by  Mr.  Hartley's  vivacious  description  of  his  friends  at  Qiiito. 

"They  are  the  gentlest,  most  simple-minded  people  in  the 
world,"  he  said,  "and  3'et  they  arc  as  ceremonious  in  their  manners  as 
the  courtiers  of  old  Spain.  The}'  make  the  utmost  possible  of  their 
long  names,  repeating  them  and  reiterating  them,  and  dwelling  with 
great  complacency  on  the  compounds  and  the  annexes.  You  know 
or  perhaps  you  don't  know,  that  near  relatives  may  have  slight  vari- 
ations of  the  family  name,  owing  to  their  absurd  habit  of  perpet- 
uating the  maiden  name  of  the  mother,  linked  by  a'y'  to  that  of  the 
father.'' 

"Oh!  yes,"  Maud  replied,  ''we  know  all  about  that.  It  gave  us  a 
great  deal  of  bother  in  Brazil." 

'' Here  is  an  invitation  to  dinner  from  ni}'  friend,"  continued  Mr. 
Hartley.  ""He  does  not  begin  as  we  would,  'Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mirandella  request  the  pleasure,'  etc.,  but  flourishes  ofl'  in  this 
style,— 

"  '  Senor  Chrysostomo  Ncpomiiceno  Palacido  Joaquim  do  Santo  Thyrso  y 
Mirandella  presents  the  compliments  of  his  mother,  the  Senora  Anastasia  Zoe 


iK^- 


M 


•n 


'nt 


.ife 


i-t<^d 


:-i,i«^cx: 


9^?r"^i  -•^-'^^il/' '. 


r- 


'^X'-' 


riZAKRO   ON   THE   ROAD   TO   CUZCO 


h\   THE  HEART  OF  A    VOLCANO,  2  2"^ 

Melendes  do  Santo  Thyrso  y  Mirandclla,  and  of  liis  wife  the  Scftora  Candida 
Maria  Encarnacao  Souza  y  Silva  do  Santo  Thyisu  y  Mirandclla,  and  he[;.s  the 
felicity'  —  " 

Maud's  keen  eye  ran  over  the  invitation.  ^'  The  Spaniards  spell 
Senor  and  Senora  without  the  h  vvhicii  the  Portuguese  insert,"  she 
remarked.  "But  Souza  y  Silva  is  a  Portuguese  name.  Why,  it  is 
the  very  same!  Can  it  be  possible  that  this  is  my  little  Candida  ol' 
the  Convent  oi"  Bom  Successo  in  Lisbon?  "' 

"I  believe  Dofia  jNIirandella  is  of  Portuguese  extraction,'"  Mr. 
Hartley  replied,  "she  has  been  married  only  a  year  or  so;  it  miirht  be 
possible." 

The  others,  attracted  by  Maud's  exclamation,  joined  in  the  discus- 
sion, but  they  all  thought  it  quite  unlikely  that  Senhor  Silva's  sister 
could  be  here  while  he  thought  her  still  unmarried  and  in  Lisbon. 

"It  does  seem  strange,"  Maud  admitted,  while  all  the  doubts  which 
she  had  ever  harbored  in  regard  to  the  man  swarmed  back  upon  her. 

"  Quito  was  one  of  the  points  where  we  were  to  hear  from  the 
Senhor,''  said  Mrs.  Holmes,  "We  have  missed  his  letters  so  far, 
perhaps  we  are  now  to  be  more  fortunate." 

Mrs.  Holmes  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  Senhor.  She  would  not 
credit  Graciliano's  assertion  that  the  serwants  were  told  to  leave 
them  at  the  most  disheartening  point  of  their  journey,  but  prel'erred 
to  attribute  this  conduct  to  their  own  treachery. 

At  Guayaquil  they  were  transferred  to  a  smaller  steamer  which 
carried  them  a  short  distance  up  the  river  Guayas  on  their  way  to 
Qiiito.  Taking  once  more  to  mountain  travel  at  the  little  town  ol" 
Bodegas,  they  found  themselves  among  the  volcanoes.  Snowy  ranges 
were  all  around  them,  but  as  they^  rode  into  the  town  of  Rio  Bamba 
one  great  peak  dominated  the  landscape,  —  a  majestic  cone,  pure 
white,  and  of  a  grandeur  and  S3"mmetry  which  awakened  universal 
cries  of  admiration. 

"What  mountain   is  that?"  Victoria  asked   of  their  guide,  and   she 


--4 


THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


never  ibri^ot  the  Avitlieriny  scorn  with  which  the  man  repeated  the 
name  Chimborazo.  It  was  as  though  a  stranger  had  stood  betbre 
Niagara  and  had  turned  to  an  American  with  the  question,  "  What  do 
you  call  that  cascade?" 

The  Professor  was  in  his  glory.    He  recognized  ever}'  peak  at  sight, 
and  repeated  the   names  of  each   ot"  the  tifty-one  Andean  \olcanoes. 


CHIMDORAZO. 


^' Of  all  this  number,"  he  said,  '^  t went}' are  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Qin'to.  Three  of  these  are  active,  five  dormant,  and  the  rest  extinct. 
Chimborazo  is  the  monarch  of  them  all.  Caraguairiazo  is  called  the 
wife  of  Chimborazo." 

^'Chimborazo  is  the  highest  mountain  in  the  world,  is  it  not?" 
asked  Delight. 

"No,  my  dear,"  the  Professor  replied,  "it  was  long  considered  so, 
but   Aconcagua   of  Chili    overtops    it.     Cotopaxi   is    oti'  to  the    east 


IN    THE   HEART  OE  A    VOLCANO. 


22i 


there,  smoking  its  calumet  like  a  sleepy  Indian  wrapped  in  nis  blan- 
ket, lie  grumbles  at  times  in  his  dreams,  sIiowjul;-  that  if  In-  slould 
wake  and  take  to  the  war- 
path he  would  be  danger- 
ous. Altar,  farther  to  the 
south,  has  eight  cones,  and 
Sangai,  its  companion,  has 
been  a  spit-tire  for  three 
centuries-  It  is  probable 
that  all  of  these  volcanoes 
are  but  chimneys  for  one 
single    furnace. 

"Think  what  a  horrible 
iiery  gulf  this  beautiful 
region  roofs.  It  is  enough 
to  chill  the  blood  with 
terror." 

"It  does  not  chill  me  in 
the  least,"  replied  Victoria. 
"  On  the  contrary  it  rather 
warms  my  imagination. 
Did  you  ever  read  '  Bul- 
wer's  Coming  Race.'  He 
believes  the  new  Utopia  to 
be  underground,  and  that 
the  beings  who  inhabit  the 
mysterious  recesses  and 
subterranean  caverns  are 
endowed  with  a  magical 
force  called  vril,  surpassing 
electricity  in  its  effects. 
They    fly    at    will,    and    do 


COTDI'AXI. 


2  26  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

many  astonishing  things,  and  the  women  are  all  stronger  and  wiser 
tiian  the  men.  It  is  a  very  ingenious  book.  One  lialf  believes  while 
reading  it." 

'^Father,"  exclaimed  Delight,  "can  we  descend  a  volcano?  I 
would  enjoy  it  above  all  things." 

^*  I  hope  to,  my  child,"  replied  the  Professor.  "  We  will  see  what 
can  be  done  when  we  reach  C^iito." 

"My  friends  will  be  able  to  tell  you  what  craters  are  practicable," 
said  Mr.  Hartley,  "and  will  render  you  every  assistance  in  their 
power." 

The  morning  alter  their  arri\al  in  Qiiito,  Mr.  Hartley  fultilled  his 
promise  by  bringing  Senor  Mirandella  to  call  upon  them.  He 
informed  them  that  his  family  were  at  his  hacienda  or  countr\'  seat, 
in  the  mountains,  to  which  he  invited  them  most  warmly,  otiering  to 
ride  out  with  them  and  assuring  them  of  a  hearty  welcome.  Maud 
made  a  few  inquiries,  and  being  convinced  that  Seiiora  Mirandella 
was  no  other  than  her  little  Lisbonese  friend,  was  anxious  to  see  her; 
and  the  Professor,  w^hen  informed  that  the  hacienda  was  only  one 
day's  journey  from  the  volcano  of  Pichincha  and  that  its  crater  was 
frecjuently  visited  by  tourists,  at  once  accepted  the  hospitable  in- 
vitation of  their  new  acquaintance.  Seiior  INIirandella  sent  a  courier 
ahead  to  inform  his  wife  of  their  coming,  and  the  excursion  was  set 
for  the  following  day.  The  afternoon  they  devoted  to  Quito,  which, 
unlike  the  regular  city  of  Lima  with  its  squares  and  boulevards, 
they  found  a  most  picturesque  Iniddle  of  houses  clambering  the 
.sides  of  the  hills  on  which  it  is  built  and  straggling  along  the  sides 
of  the  two  ra\ines  which  intersected  it.  All  around  them  rose 
tile  mountains,  eight  great  peaks  being  visible  from  the  city. 
The  houses  were  usually  of  but  one  stor}-,  on  account  of  the 
frequency  of  earthquakes,  tliC  last  having  nearly  wrecked  the 
place.  Rich  fruits  and  flowers  were  noticeable  everywhere,  and 
fountains    gushed  in  abundance,  but   they  were  told   that  the   Avater 


:l'ANl:3ll    AMl-KlcA. 


IN  THE   HEART  OE  A     yOlX'AXO.  229 

impregnated  with  various  minerals  was  productive  ol  elepliantiasis, 
thouiih  in  other  respects  the  mountain  city  was  one  ot  the  most 
healthful  in  South  America. 

Victoria  bought  pieces  ot"  the  gold  laee  made  b\-  the  women,  and 
all  greatly  enjoyed  their  visits  to  the  libraries. 

The  next  morning  a  gay  cavalcade  started  uj)  the  slopes  of  tlie 
volcano  of  Pichincha.  They  rode  through  a  most  beautiful  and 
fertile  region,  and  Delight  frequently  exclaimed  with  pleasure  as  a 
new  fern  was  handed  her.  ISenor  Mirandella  assured  her  that  the 
region  boasted  one  hundred  and  Ibrty  species.  The  bamboo,  king 
of  grasses,  grew  rankly  by  the  roadside,  and  fuchsias  were  every- 
where abundant. 

They  reached  the  hacienda  at  noon  and  were  warmly  welcomed  by 
the  ladies,  the  wife  of  Senor  Mirandella  proving  to  be  indeed  Maud's 
friend.  She  had  studied  English  at  the  convent  in  Lisbon,  and  she 
greeted  them  with  an  enthusiastic  "  I  am  delightful  to  see  you!" 

She  ushered  them  at  once  to  a  cool  dining-room  and  served  them 
to  chirinwyas,  —  a  fruit  which  Mr.  Hartley  declared  to  be  spiritual- 
ized strawberries, —  and  to  some  delicious  ices  and  cakes.  They 
spent  the  afternoon  in  the  lovely  garden,  where  they  found  exquisite 
flowers  of  nearlv  every  kind  except  roses,  for  the  queen  of  the  garden 
does  not  flourish  in  South  America. 

"The  mimosai  are  my  favorites,*'  said  their  hostess,  "for,  see,  they 
fold  their  little  hands  and  say  their  prayers  every  evening  before  they 

sleep." 

The  girls  spoke  of  their  odd  meeting  with  her  brother,  Senhor 
Silva,  and  she  looked  up  in  a  startled  way. 

"Is  Jesuino  in  Brazil?"  she  asked,  "  I  did  not  know  it." 

"Not  Jesuino,"  Maud  replied,  "but  your  half-brother,  the  Senhor 
Palacios  y  Silva." 

"But  I  have  no  lialf  brother,"  Senora  Mirandella  replied  wonder- 


230 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


"Arc  you  sure  of  tliis?"  Maud  asked,  and  tlicu  she  reviewed  tlie 
entire  story  of  tlieir  niectini;-  with  tlie  Senhor  on  ship-board;  but  the 
more  she  exphiined  tlie  more  m\'sterious  it  all  became. 

The  gentlemen  were  called  in  to  give  their  opinion,  and  Mr.  Hart- 
lev  was  certain  that  the  Senhor  was  a  clever  sharper  who  had  claimed 
relationship  with  Maud  s  friends,  because  he  saw  that  it  would  give 
him  a  passport  to  their  society. 

"But  how  did  he  know  all  about  the  Sihas?  "  Maud  asked. 

"iSIaud,  dear,"  Delight  exclaimed,  "I  remember  distinctly  now. 
When  he  said  his  name  w^as  Silva  3-ou  told  him  all  about  your  Lis- 
bonese  friends,  and  he  merely  listened  until  }"ou  had  ended  and  then 
asserted  his  relationship." 

"  And  have  you  no  friends  by  the  name  of  Palacios?  "  Maud  asked. 

"  None  whatever,"  the  Seiiora  replied. 

"Then  I  am  afraid,"  said  jNIr.  Hartley,  "that  it  is  a  clear  case 
against  the  Senhor." 

"  I  don't  like  to  believe  this,"  said  the  Professor.  "  He  was  a  very 
interesting  man." 

"There  were  many  suspicious  circumstances,"  said  Delight,  "you 
know  what  iNIr.  Jenkins  thought." 

"Dear  me,"  groaned  Maud,  "if  it  had  not  been  for  my  assurance 
that  I  knew  his  family  he  might  have  been  arrested  by  this  time." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  Victoria  asked  proudly.  "Mr.  Jenkins 
was  always  suspecting  some  one;  but,  however  bad  the  Senhor  may 
be,  I  do  not  see  that  Ave  have  any  proof  that  he  was  Gold  &  Glitter's 
defaulting  cashier." 

"No  real  proof,"  ?vlaud  assented,  "and  yet  I  am  morally  certain 
tliat  he  is  ti:e  man." 

Sefior  Mirandella  now  called  for  music,  and  his  wife  was  induced 
to  sing  Tenn3'son\s  "Brook,"  and  again  Maud  listened  to  the  familiar 
words  with  the  odd  accent  which  had  so  amused  her  in  Lisbon,  — 

"  I  charter,  charter,  as  I  go  to  join  the  brccming  reever." 


IN   THE   HEART  OE  A    VOLCANO. 


2.^.T 


Tlicn  the  Professor  talked  \oIcanoes,  ami  Vieloria  listened  wiilunit 
hearing, —  it  seemed  to  her  that  she  had  been  tread ini,^  on  volcnaie 
ground.  She  was  eonN  ineed  that  the  Senhor  was  an  e\  il  man,  and 
she  shuddered  as  she  thought  how  nearly  she  had  come  to  |ilaeing 
the  greatest  trust  of  life  in  hitu. 

The  next  morning  they  set  out  for  the  summit  of  Piehineha,  whieh 
they  reached  before  noon,  and  began  the  hazardous  descent  of  the 
crater.  Tliey  were  I'astened  to  each  other  by  a  long  line,  and  de- 
scended on  tbot  in  Indian  tile,  stepping  cautiously  over  deep  crevices, 
and  keeping  close  to  the  precipitous  side  ol'  the  mountain.  They 
found  gentians  and  violets  growing  close  to  sulphur-coated  stones. 
The  basin  was  2,500  feet  deep  and  1,500  feet  in  diameter.  In  its 
centre  there  was  a  pile  of  stones,  —  the  cone  or  chimney  of  eruption, 
two  hundred  and  sixty  feet  high. 

"What  a  Valley  of  the  Shadow  of  Death  it  is!  "  Maud  exclaimed, 
as  they  reached  the  bottom,  after  two  hours  and  a  half  of  tedious 
climbing,  and  the  party  rested,  fanning  themselves  with  their  hats. 

■'It  would  be  a  good  place  in  which  to  read  '  Dante's  Inferno,""' 
Delight  suggested. 

'^  Or  to  sing  the  '  De  Profundis,' ""  Victoria  added. 

After  resting,  the  party  dispersed,  —  some  picking  up  specimens  of 
lava  and  minerals,  others  assisting  in  the  preparation  of  lunch,  which 
was  partaken  of  in  the  shadow  of  the  cone.  It  seemed  to  them  all 
that  their  merriment  was  a  little  strained,  and  that  their  voices; 
sounded  hollow  in  this  great  caldron. 

"It  is  like  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,""  Victoria  exclaimed.  "  What  if 
the  herv  gulf  should  open  under  our  feet  now.  I  certainly  feel  an 
uncomfortable  premonition  of  evil,  and  I  wish  we  had  not  come. 
We  seem  to  be  daring  the  unseen  powers  to  do  their  worst  by  bring- 
ing our  sport  into  the  very  throat  of  the  monster."" 

The  Professor  endeavored  to  prove  that  the  volcano  was  extinct, 
and  while  searchin<r  throu<rh   his   memorandum   book  for  the  date  of 


2  34 


THREE    ]-ASSAR   GIRLS  IX  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


its  last  eruption  he  was  suddenly  startled  by  the   discovery  of  a  letter 

addressed  to  \''ictoria. 

"  Dear  me,"  he  ejaculated,  "  how  forgetful  I  am.     I  found  this  letter 

waiting  for  us  at  Qiiito,  but  have  been  so  busy  with  other  matters 

that  it  never  occurred  to  me  to  hand  it  to  3'Ou.''' 

The  manner  of  its  presentation 
was  so  abrupt  that  all  eyes  were 
fixed  upon  Victoria,  who  was 
strangely  affected  by  its  receipt. 
She  did  not  open  it  for  several  mo- 
ments, but  stared  fixedl}'  at  the 
address,  at  first  vaguely  striving  to 
realize  wh}*  it  seemed  so  familiar, 
and  then,  suddenly  realizing  that 
this  was  the  hand  which  had 
written  the  forged  letter  to  the 
Doctor,  she  tore  it  open,  and,  with- 
out glancing  at  the  contents,  read 
only  the  signature,  Jose  Ignacio  da 
Siha  y  Palacios. 

A  great  wave  of  crimson  swept 
across  her  face  and  throat.  He 
had  done  this;  then  she  could  be- 
lieve anything  of  him.  "  Maud,"* 
she  said,  extending  her  hand 
iVankly,  "  I  have  done  you  a  great 
wrong.  Will  3'ou  forgive  me?" 
"Why  certainly;  what  was  it?"  Maud  replied  in  a  breath. 
"  I  would  rather  not  tell  you,  for  you  would  be  perfectly  justified 

in  being  deeply  offended  that  I  could  have  imagined  you  capable  of 

the  mean  action  whose  author  I  have  just  discovered.     Graciliano,  if 

you  will  fasten  this  letter  to  one  of  your  arrows  and  shoot  it  so  exactly 


GKACILIAXO  AND   THE   LETTER. 


IN   THE   HEART  OE  A    IVLCAXO.  2^:^ 

that  it  will  fall  just  within  the  cone-chinincy  of  the  volcano,  I  will  be 
greatly  obliged  to  3'ou." 

Graciliano  stepped  up  grinning,  but  Maud  stopped  him.  ''One 
instant,  Victoria,"  she  pleaded.  ''  Will  you  not  let  me  compare  the 
address  on  that  envelope  with  some  writing  which  Mv.  Jenkins  left 
with  me.  It  will  either  prove  or  disprove  the  suspicion  which  I 
expressed  last  evening,  for  this  paper  which  I  hold  in  my  hand  was 
written  by  that  Mr.  Bartlett." 

"And  my  letter,"  Victoria  replied,  "is  from  Senhor  Palacios,  and 
is  the  very  hand  in  wdiich  a  letter  purporting  to  be  from  me  was 
written  to  Dr.  Stillman.  He  has  proved  himself  a  forger  in  one 
matter;  it  would  be  perfectly  consistent  if  he  were  shown  to  be  a 
scoundrel  throuo^h  and  throuirh." 

Victoria  reopened  the  letter  which  she  had  crumj:)led  in  her  indig- 
nation and  glanced  it  over.  She  could  not  show  Maud  the  first  page, 
for  in  it  the  Senhor  had  taken  an  unmanly  advantage  of  their  unde- 
cided relations  to  each  other,  and  had  assumed  a  bindini;  ens^ajrement. 
This  enraged  Victoria  still  further,  and  she  ran  over  the  pages  with 
kindling  eye.  Luckily  the  last  sheet  contained  nothing  which  all 
might  not  read,  and  w^as  indeed  intended  to  be  passed  from  hand  to 
hand  and  read  by  the  entire  party. 

"Take  it!  "  V^ictoria  exclaimed,  "  and  I  trust  it  may  realize  your 
worst  suspicions." 

The  tw^o  sheets  of  paper  were  compared  in  silence,  for  the  chiro- 
graphy  was  identical. 

"A  volcano  has  indeed  opened  under  our  feet,"  said  the  Professor. 

"A  pretty  active  one  too,"  grumbled  Maud,  "and  once  more 
where,  oh,  where  is  Mr.  Jenkins?  and  why  didn't  I  show  him  that 
sketch  which  I  made  of  the  Senhor  with  blond  hair?" 

"Only  because  you  were  too  just  to  throw  suspicion  upon  him 
while  you  still  thought  that  he  was  the  brother  of  your  friend  here, 
and  consequently  innocent,"  Delight  replied. 


236  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

"You  have  cnouirli  cxidcncc  now  to  convict  and  send  him  to  Sinff 
Sin<|^,"  Mr.  Hartley  remarked. 

"  Provided  tliat  he  can  be  caught,''  Maud  replied  dryly. 

"  You  had  better  not  inform  our  officials,"  Senor  Mirandella  ad- 
vised. ''They  are  so  inefficient  that  he  \vould  slip  through  their 
fingers.-' 

"And  vet,"  added  liis  pretty  wife,  "I  would  like  to  have  hini 
apprehended  if  only  for  pretending  himself  to  be  my  bruzzer." 

"  I  can  send  ever\thing  by  mail  straight  to  Gold  &  Glitter,"  Maud 
suggested. 

"We  will  reach  New  York  as  soon  as  a  letter,"  the  Professor  ob- 
jected, "and  can  give  clearer  testimon}'  than  could  be  written.'' 

"You  had  better  telegraph  from  the  first  station,"  ^fr.  Hartley 
advised,  "  and  state  that  proofs,  etc.,  are  on  the  way."  And  this 
plan  was  afterwards  followed, 

"  Now,"  said  Victoria,  after  the  tumult  of  discussion  had  a  little 
subsided.  "If  any  of  you  can  sing  'De  Profundis'  I  wish  you  would, 
for  I  certainl}'  feel  that  we  have  been  taken  out  of  the  depths,  in 
escaping  from  that  man's  society." 

"We  need  the  Doctor  to  sing  anything,"  Delight  replied,  and  ^Irs. 
Holmes  echoed  a  regret  for  his  absence. 

Rested  and  refreshed,  the  party  began  the  tiresome  upward  journey, 
and  reached  the  hacienda  by  moonlight. 

"  Our  journey  is  over,"  said  the  Professor,  "and  it  has  been  full  and 
rich  beyond  my  expectations.  To-morrow  we  turn  our  faces  home- 
ward, having  been  absent  nearly  two  months  longer  than  we  antici- 
pated, but  I,  at  least,  have  nothing  but  the  plcasantest  memories  in 
connection  with  the  tour." 

""What  of  your  long  illness?"  Maud  asked. 

"  Have  I  not  the  deepest  cause  for  gratitude  in  my  wonderful  res- 
toration?—  and  think  of  the  friends  it  brousfht  me." 

"  I   have   certainly   gained   by   the  trip,"  Maud   mused.      "  Health, 


IN   THE   HEART  QE  A    VOLCANO.  2^7 

experience,  a  store   (j1"  sketclies  —  a  real    mine   lor  liiture   i)ietures 

^vith  friendships  and  pleasant  memories." 

Delight  drew  nearer  to  her  father  and  clasped  his  hand,  but  ^aid 
never  a  word.  Nor  did  Victoria  speak  until  she  and  Deli«,dit  were 
curtained  away  from  the  night  together.  Then,  as  she  combed  out 
her  long  dark  hair,  she  said,  "  My  experience  with  the  outside  world 
has  not  been  very  satisfactory.  I  tind  that  I  cannot  trust  my  own 
judgment  to  distinguish  sterling  metal  fnjm  dross,  and  I  am  glad  1 
am  going  back  to  Vassar  lor  longer  tutelage."' 

"I  think  I  can  guess  what  has  vexed  you,"  Delight  replied, '^  but 
the  Senhor  was  so  very  plausible  and  pleasant,  1  do  not  think  you 
were  in  the  least  to  blame  for  liking  him  a  little." 

"Like  him!  "  Victoria  exclaimed.  "What  is  there  in  anv  person 
to  like  outside  of  character  ?  and  the  Senhor  showed  himself,  in  so 
many  little  wa3s,  mean,  selfish,  and  despicable.  If  }()u  could  have 
heard  how  dishonorably  he  tried  to  prejudice  me  against  Dr.  Still- 
jiian." 

"  And  Dr.  Stillman  was  so  thoroughly  ujiright  and  self-sacriticing. 
He  was  really  g'ood,  Victoria.  I  hope  you  did  not  wound  him  too 
"deeply,  for  Ave  all  guessed  when  he  went  away  that  there  was  some- 
thing the  matter.'" 

'"^  Dr.  Stillman  was  a  saint,  and  I  daresay  I  have  hurt  his  feelings, 
l)ut  I  can't  help  it,  for,  saint  or  sinner,  I  feel  as  if  i  ne\  er  wanted  to 
speak  to  another  man  as  long  as  I  live.'" 

' "  O  Victoria!  you  forget  your  fither.'" 

"So  I  did,  and  your  father,  and  maybe  one  or  tw(j  others;  but 
what  fools  girls  are  to  want  to  go  into  society  before  they  ha\  e  the 
least  atom  of  sense  in  their  little  empty  heads.  I  don't  wonder  that 
sensible  women  used  to  go  into  nunneries  to  escape  marriage,  b'or 
my  part  I  would  like  to  stay  at  Vassar  for  tiic  rest  of  my  days." 

"  I  would  not.  The  great  beauty  of  Vassar  to  me  is  that  it  fits  one 
for  a  busy  and  wider  life.      Look  at  Maud.     Slie   is   an  enthusiastic 


238  THREE    VAS^AR   GIRLS  EV  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

Vassar  girl,  and  yet  she  would  no  more  like  to  go  back  there,  and 
tread  the  old  corridors  and  live  the  old  lile,  than  a  chicken  would 
like  to  shut  itself  up  again  in  an  egg-shell." 

•^  Maud  is  a  truly  noble  young  woman,  and  she  seems  perfectly 
satisfied  with  being  an  old  maid.  Well,  there  are  more  resources  lor 
single  women  nowada3's  than  formerly.  They  can  do  more,  and  can 
enjoy  all  the  privileges  of  the  age,  as  well  as  their  married  sisters. 
Delight,  I  have  decided  that  I  shall  be  an  old  maid,  like  ^Nlaud." 

Delight  laughed  softly.  '^  I  will  tell  you  a  secret,  Vic  dear,"  she 
said. 

"Well,  w^hatis  it?" 

''  Maud  is  engaged." 

''You  don't  mean  it." 

"I  do,  though;  to  a  Mr.  Richard  Atchison,  whom  she  met  in  Eng- 
land.    He  is  a  manufacturer  somewhere  in  the  Southern  States." 

"I  never  would  have  believed  it  of  her;  she  is  so  downright  sensi- 
ble, and  a  Vassar  girl  too." 

"  Sensible  people  do  marry  sometimes,  Vic,  as  I  have  no  doubt  you 
will  some  day.  Maud's  wedding  is  set  for  next  Christmas,  after  her 
family  return  from  Europe.  If  she  gets  the  $5,000  reward  for  dis- 
covering the  Senhor,  it  wnll  be  a  nice  little  dowry,  will  it  not?  On 
reflection,  I  don't  believe  Maud  would  accept  it.  It  seems  too  much 
like  the  price  of  a  man's  libert3^" 

"I  don't  see  why  she  should  hesitate.  He  deserves  apprehension 
for  his  crimes.  She  deserves  the  reward  for  her  shrewdness.  If  she 
docs  not  take  it  I  will  make  her  a  handsome  wedding  present,  for  I 
am  very  grateful  to  her  for  unmasking  the  villain  in  or.r  little  romance. 
And  all  the  same,  I  am  enormousl}''  disappointed  in  her,  if  what  you 
say  is  true.     iSIaud  engaged  —  the  idea!" 

On  leaving  their  friends,  Philomena  and  Graciliano  were  otiercd 
the  choice  of  having  their  expenses  paid  back  to  Santarem,  or  of 
receivinc:  the   same   sum  and    cnterinir  into  the  service  of  Senor  and 


AV    THE   HEART  OF  A    IVTCA.VO. 


^,V) 


Senora  Mirandella.  They  accepted  tlie  latter  alternati\e,  and  the 
party  left  them  established  in  a  cottai^e  near  the  haeienthi. 

Chimborazo,  the  glittering  iceberg  ot"  the  volcanoes,  Hashed  like  an 
opal  in  the  morning  sunshine,  as  they  looked  upon  it  for  the  last  time. 
The  land  they  were  leaving  was  as  beautit'ul  as  a  vision,  and  yet  tiiere 
was  a  thrill  in  their  hearts  as  they  lelt  it  which  was  not  all  regret,  and 
the  old  Professor,  triumphant  and  happy  as  he  certainly  was,  was 
humming  under  his  breath,  —  what  but  "  Home,  Sweet  Home  I  " 

And  was  the  defaulting  INIr.  Bartlett  taken?  And  did  Maud  re- 
ceive the  reward?  And  did  Victoria  ever  change  her  mind  about 
the  Doctor? 

Pertinent  questions  all,  —  to  be  answered  possibly  in  the  future;  but 
life  is  a  continued  story,  which  goes  on  and  on,  always  linking  itself 
into  new  incidents  and  situations,  and  never  rounding  all  into  c(mi- 
pleteness  at  any  one  time.  I  have  given  you  their  journey,  a  laithful 
transcript  of  all  that  befel  our  Three  Vassar  Girls  in  South  America. 


RARI    HOOK 
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